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Tarrant County and Dallas–Fort Worth
Tax defense for Tarrant County and Dallas–Fort Worth.
The office is in Bedford, in the Mid-Cities between Fort Worth and Dallas. IRS matters are federal, so where you live changes less than you might expect, but a few local facts are worth knowing.
The Law Office of Patrick Smith represents taxpayers across Tarrant County and the Dallas–Fort Worth area in IRS and Texas Comptroller disputes. Most of the work is done in writing and by phone with IRS offices that may be in another state, so clients rarely need to travel. The U.S. Tax Court hears North Texas cases at its trial sessions in Dallas. Notices of federal tax lien against real estate are recorded with the county clerk of the county where the property sits.
How location affects an IRS case
The IRS unit handling your notice is determined by the type of notice, not by your ZIP code. A CP2000 response may go to a campus in another state. A Collection Due Process hearing is usually held by phone with an Appeals officer who could be anywhere. What is local:
- Revenue officers are field collection employees assigned by territory. If one is assigned to you, that person works from a North Texas post of duty and can appear at your home or business.
- U.S. Tax Court trial sessions for this region are held in Dallas. The court is based in Washington, D.C., and its judges travel to hear cases.
- Federal tax liens on real property are recorded in the county real property records, for example with the Tarrant County Clerk or the Dallas County Clerk. A lien recorded in one county does not appear in another county's records.
- Refund suits and summons enforcement are heard in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which has divisions in both Fort Worth and Dallas.
Texas Comptroller matters
Sales tax audits, franchise tax disputes, and personal liability assessments against business owners are handled by the Comptroller's field offices and, when contested, through redetermination hearings before the State Office of Administrative Hearings. These have their own deadlines, separate from anything the IRS sends.
Communities served
City pages with local filing information for each of these communities are being added.
Common questions
Direct answers.
Do I need a tax attorney in my own city?
No. IRS matters are handled under federal law by mail, phone, and electronic filing, and the IRS office on your notice may be in another state. What matters is that your representative is authorized to practice before the IRS and is reachable. A Texas attorney is needed for Texas Comptroller disputes and state court matters.
Where does the U.S. Tax Court hear cases for Dallas-Fort Worth?
The Tax Court holds trial sessions in Dallas for taxpayers in North Texas. The petition itself is filed with the court in Washington, D.C., electronically or by mail, and you choose the place of trial when you file.
Where is a federal tax lien recorded in Tarrant County?
A notice of federal tax lien against real property is recorded in the real property records of the county where the property is located, which for Tarrant County is the Tarrant County Clerk. Liens against other property follow Texas's federal lien registration rules.
Can I meet with the attorney in person?
Yes. The office is at 1244 Harwood Road in Bedford. Most clients handle everything by phone and secure document upload, but in-person meetings are available by appointment.
Next step
Wherever you are in DFW, the deadline is the same.
Send the first page of the notice and the office will tell you what it means.