Tax law in Iowa is best left to the professionals, but that does not mean that you shouldn't have a basic understanding Iowa tax law and keep up to date with any changes.

Properly following all IRS tax laws for Iowa is important to the success of any business. Mistakes could be the death of your business. In most cases, it is best to hire a professional to help make sure that you don't end up in the Iowa tax courts.

Prior to choosing a tax professional:

1. Determine whether you need in-house professionals or can hire people on a contract basis. This often depends on the size of your company with large companies requiring full-time accountants.

2. Seek out only qualified professionals. Make sure that the people you hire understand every Iowa tax rule.

3. Keep up to date on Iowa tax law. Even though you may hire professionals to do the dirty work, it's still important for all business owners to have a good understanding of tax law in Iowa and any changes made.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study the IA tax law on your own

A good business owner knows where his or her money goes, and that includes taxes. Take the time to learn as much as you can about the tax laws in Iowa.

I recommend: Before hiring an IRS tax attorney, Iowa business owners can learn about taxes through the Iowa Department of Revenue. There is a wealth of information there for Iowa business owners. You can also read their many publications and sign up for the newsletter.

Save money and do the IA tax law work yourself

While most people choose to hire professionals to do their tax work for them, there are several tasks that you can perform yourself. You do not always need Iowa tax attorneys.

I recommend: There are many things you can do online through the Iowa Department of Revenue such as filing and paying your taxes and applying for permits. Of course, you will have to keep track of all your finances. Quicken is a great software for doing just that. Also, check out the popular TurboTax for help filing your taxes.

Hire Iowa tax attorneys and accountants to ensure your success

When you have professionals taking care of complicated legal issues, you can feel more confident that you will not have to deal with any Iowa tax problems. Many people hire professionals, including an IRS tax attorney, Iowa accountant or bookkeeper.

I recommend: Fill out a quick form at the Iowa State Bar Association to receive a referral for a lawyer in your area. If it's an accountant you need, check out the member directory at the Accountants Association of Iowa.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you only need the services of Iowa tax attorneys occasionally, look for a lawyer that accepts payment on a per-hour basis. If your lawyer charges a retainer fee, you may be paying too much.