Dedicated Advocacy for California Taxpayer Rights
Defending Taxpayers Against IRS and California Tax Enforcement
Attorney-Led Representation in Audit Examinations, Collection Actions, and Administrative Appeals Call (661) 933-0043 for a confidential review
Bakersfield Tax Attorney for IRS and California Tax Matters
If you have received a notice from the IRS or from a California taxing authority—such as the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), or the Employment Development Department (EDD)—the matter has moved beyond routine correspondence. These notices often signal a legal issue with potential immediate and long-term financial consequences.
Such matters carry defined response deadlines and procedural requirements. Failure to respond accurately and on time can result in the loss of appeal rights, the assessment of additional penalties and interest, or the initiation of collection actions such as tax liens, bank levies, or wage garnishments. Once these processes advance, resolving the matter often becomes more complex and costly.
With the right legal guidance and a clear plan, many tax issues can be handled calmly and in an organized way. Addressing the situation early helps protect your rights, limit risk, and clarify your options.
Questioning Whether Your Matter Is Being Handled Properly?
Independent Guidance When You’re Unsure About Your Current Representation
Delays, unclear guidance, and changing advice often signal that a matter isn’t receiving the attention it requires. Reassurance offers little value. What matters is clarity, accountability, and having someone who takes ownership of the matter. A direct review of your case can help identify potential risks and determine whether your matter is being handled properly before problems escalate.
A Message From Tax Attorney Jorge Alesna, Jr.
If you’re here because you received a letter from the IRS or a California tax agency, let me start by saying this: you’re not overreacting, and you’re not alone.
Almost everyone I speak with starts the same way. They open an envelope, feel that familiar knot in their stomach, and tell themselves they’ll deal with it once they understand it better or once things slow down. That’s a completely human response. Unfortunately, tax agencies don’t operate on human timelines.
While you’re trying to make sense of what the notice means, the government is already moving forward. That’s usually the part no one explains upfront, and it’s why so many people end up facing liens, levies, or garnishments they never saw coming.
It Usually Starts With a Letter
And Most People Underestimate It
If you’ve gotten a letter from the IRS or a California tax agency, your first instinct is probably to set it aside and deal with it later. That’s normal. Most people do. It doesn’t feel urgent at first, and it definitely doesn’t feel like something that’s about to turn into a real problem.
But here’s the part most people don’t realize until they’re already in it: while you’re deciding when to respond, the government is deciding what to do next. And they’re not waiting for you to feel ready.
When Things Escalate, They Escalate Fast
Unanswered or mishandled tax notices don’t just sit there. They move forward.
At first it’s subtle. A tax lien shows up and suddenly refinancing or selling property gets complicated. Then it gets more disruptive. Wage garnishments start cutting into your paycheck. Bank levies can freeze or drain accounts before you’ve even had a chance to ask questions. If you run a business, that kind of interruption can ripple out quickly.
Once enforcement starts, you’re no longer dealing with “paperwork.” You’re dealing with real consequences.
Audits Move Forward—Whether You’re Ready or Not
Tax audits move on the government’s timeline, not yours. Information requests come with firm deadlines, and missed or incomplete responses are often treated as noncooperation. What starts as an examination can quickly escalate if deadlines are missed or documents are submitted without strategy.
Cooperating with auditors does not mean conceding issues or volunteering unnecessary information. It means responding deliberately, on time, and with an understanding of how each response affects the audit.
Handled properly, audits can stay controlled. Mishandled, they often expand and lead to assessments that are far harder to challenge later.
This Is Usually the Moment People Say, “I Didn’t Know It Worked Like This”
A lot of people think tax problems are just about numbers. Add this up, subtract that, file something, and it’ll sort itself out. Sometimes that’s true, early on.
But once enforcement is on the table, it’s not really about math anymore. It’s about judgment. It’s about what deadlines were missed, what was said (or not said), and how the agency sees you at that point.
That’s usually when people realize this wasn’t something to casually handle on their own.
Why Some Situations Calm Down, and Others Get Worse
Most tax problems don’t blow up because of one big mistake. They get worse because of a handful of small ones. Waiting a little too long. Assuming silence buys time. Thinking one more letter won’t matter.
It adds up.
By the time people realize things are serious, the agency has already moved from asking questions to taking action.
Where I Come In
When someone comes to me, the goal isn’t to promise miracles or tell them everything will be fine. It’s to slow things down, figure out what’s actually going on, and get control of the situation again.
That means handling communication with the IRS or California tax agencies directly, being careful about what gets said and when, and making sure decisions don’t accidentally make things worse.
It’s not about making problems disappear. It’s about dealing with them intelligently before they snowball.
This Is Not for People Looking for Quick Fixes
I’ll be straight with you. If you’re hoping for the cheapest option, a magic solution, or someone to “just take care of it” without your involvement, this probably isn’t the right fit.
This kind of work only goes well when the client is engaged, responsive, and honest about the facts. Tax agencies don’t slow down because paperwork is missing, and no lawyer can help if they’re working in the dark.
Most People Say the Same Thing Afterward
They almost always say, “I should’ve dealt with this sooner.”
That’s not regret. It’s just the realization that earlier action gives you more room to maneuver.
And if you’re reading this now, you’re not late. You’re early enough to ask the right questions.
If This Feels Urgent, It Probably Is
A short, confidential conversation can help you understand how serious the situation really is and what options you actually have. No pressure. No sales talk. Just clarity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Clear, Direct Answers
Practical explanations of common tax questions
What types of tax matters do you handle?
I handle both tax resolution and tax controversy matters for individuals and businesses. This includes resolving tax debts through installment agreements, offers in compromise, currently not collectible status, penalty abatement, and the release of wage or bank levies. I also represent individuals and businesses in audits, appeals, payroll and sales tax matters, Trust Fund Recovery Penalty cases, lien challenges, Collection Due Process hearings, and, when necessary, tax court or other litigation.
When should I contact a tax attorney?
The earlier, the better. Many people wait until enforcement has already begun such as bank levies, wage garnishments, or business disruption. Early legal intervention preserves options. Delayed or incorrect responses often eliminate them. If you’ve received a notice from the IRS, FTB, CDTFA, or EDD and are unsure what it means or how serious it is, that is the right time to call.
Which tax agencies do you represent individuals and businesses before?
I represent individuals and businesses in audits, collection matters, and appeals involving income, payroll, and sales-and-use taxes before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and the Employment Development Department (EDD).
I already tried to resolve this myself. Is it too late?
Not necessarily, but options may be narrower. Many clients come to me after attempting to handle matters on their own or through accountants or national tax resolution companies. In some cases, earlier responses created unnecessary exposure.
Will you promise a specific outcome?
No. Any attorney who guarantees results in tax matters is not being candid. What I provide is a realistic assessment of risk, clear options, and a strategy aligned with your goals and tolerance for uncertainty. Some matters resolve efficiently. Others require sustained advocacy. You will understand the reasoning behind every step.
How does your representation differ from national tax resolution companies?
I personally handle your matter, not a call center, script, or rotating case manager. I do not delegate legal judgment or advocacy to non-lawyers. Tax disputes require accountability, precision, and consistency. My practice is intentionally structured to provide that.
Do you take every case?
No. I limit the number of matters I take on to ensure direct attorney involvement, timely communication, and focused attention. If your priority is finding the lowest price or shopping multiple firms for estimates, my practice is likely not the right fit. Clients who work with me value competence, responsiveness, and reliability.
What do you expect from clients?
Effective representation is collaborative. While I handle legal strategy and communication with tax agencies, outcomes depend on timely and accurate information from the client. That means responding to requests, providing documents when asked, and being candid about the facts. Tax agencies do not pause enforcement because information is incomplete, and legal strategy cannot be built on guesswork.
Will my inquiry remain confidential?
Yes. All inquiries and discussions are kept confidential, even if you choose not to retain me. The purpose of the initial conversation is to provide clarity, for both of us, and to determine whether representation makes sense.
For Matters Requiring Immediate Attention
When deadlines are approaching or enforcement is already underway, waiting can make things worse. Matters involving urgent time limits or government action often require immediate legal attention. For these situations, I offer priority, in-person consultations at my office. These are paid consultations, available by appointment only. If your situation cannot wait, timely scheduling is important.
These consultations are intended for matters requiring timely action, including IRS or California tax issues involving audit deadlines, bank levies, or wage garnishments, where delay or uncertainty can materially affect the outcome. During a one-hour, in-person meeting at my downtown Bakersfield office—or by telephone if preferred—you receive focused legal guidance, not a sales presentation.
Paid consultations are also available, by appointment, for non-urgent matters that warrant a more detailed, face-to-face discussion of options, planning considerations, or ongoing concerns. In all cases, this time is dedicated exclusively to your matter. I will review relevant documents, explain applicable rights and deadlines, identify material risks, and outline realistic courses of action based on your circumstances. There is no obligation to retain me following the consultation. You will leave with a clear understanding of your position and next steps.
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