Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Tax Attorney
IRS & California Tax Defense
Brotman Law provides Los Angeles taxpayers with experienced representation for IRS audits, tax debt resolution, CDTFA sales tax disputes, EDD payroll tax assessments, and FTB income tax controversies.
Sam Brotman, J.D., LL.M.Key Takeaway
If you're facing an IRS audit, EDD payroll tax dispute, or CDTFA sales tax assessment in Los Angeles, a local tax attorney can represent you before these agencies. The CDTFA Glendale district office and EDD Van Nuys office handle most LA-area audits. Call Brotman Law at (619) 378-3138 for a free intro call — we serve clients throughout Los Angeles County.
Why You Need a Tax Attorney in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the economic engine of Southern California and one of the largest metropolitan economies in the world. With that economic activity comes aggressive tax enforcement. The IRS maintains a significant presence in LA, and California's state tax agencies — the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and the Employment Development Department (EDD) — all operate major offices throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, real estate investor, or high-income earner in LA, you're statistically more likely to face a tax audit or enforcement action than taxpayers in most other parts of the country. Los Angeles County generates enormous tax revenue for both the federal and state governments, and both the IRS and California agencies dedicate substantial enforcement resources to the region.
The entertainment industry, real estate market, tech sector, and international trade that define LA's economy also create uniquely complex tax situations. Income from royalties, residuals, and back-end deals in entertainment requires specialized tax knowledge. Real estate transactions involving 1031 exchanges, opportunity zones, and passive activity rules demand careful structuring. And the gig economy — which has deep roots in LA — raises difficult questions about worker classification and payroll tax obligations.
Brotman Law serves Los Angeles clients from our San Diego headquarters, handling cases remotely and through in-person meetings as needed. For IRS matters, your attorney's physical location is irrelevant — we represent LA clients in every type of IRS proceeding. For California state tax matters, we appear before the FTB, CDTFA, and EDD on behalf of clients throughout Los Angeles County and across the state.
When you're facing a tax problem in Los Angeles, you need an attorney who understands both the federal tax code and California's unique tax landscape. You need someone who has handled thousands of cases — not a general practitioner who occasionally takes on a tax matter. That's what Brotman Law provides.
In our practice, Los Angeles clients consistently present the most complex multi-agency cases we handle. It's common for an LA business owner to face simultaneous IRS, FTB, and CDTFA examinations — each with different timelines, different examiner expectations, and different appeal paths. We've developed a coordinated defense approach for these multi-front cases that prevents one agency's resolution from creating problems with another.
State Tax Agency Offices Near Los Angeles
CDTFA & EDD Offices Serving the LA Area
Los Angeles taxpayers dealing with state tax disputes interact with agency offices throughout the region. Understanding which offices handle your case — and having an attorney who regularly represents clients before them — can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your matter.
CDTFA Glendale Office. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration operates its Glendale office at 611 N. Brand Blvd., which serves as a primary hub for sales tax audits, use tax assessments, and special tax program administration across the greater Los Angeles area. If you've received a CDTFA audit notice or sales tax assessment, your case is likely being managed through this office. The CDTFA also maintains district offices in Culver City and Cerritos, handling the high volume of sales tax matters generated by LA's retail and wholesale economy.
EDD Van Nuys Office. The Employment Development Department's Van Nuys office at 15400 Sherman Way is one of the busiest EDD locations in the state. This office handles payroll tax audits, unemployment insurance claims, and employer compliance matters for businesses throughout the San Fernando Valley and greater LA. For Los Angeles employers facing an EDD audit or payroll tax assessment, the Van Nuys office is typically the assigned office — though we represent clients regardless of which EDD office initiates the case.
Brotman Law represents Los Angeles clients before all CDTFA district offices, all EDD offices, and the Franchise Tax Board statewide. Whether your case originates in Glendale, Van Nuys, or any other California location, our representation is the same — experienced, aggressive, and focused entirely on achieving the best possible outcome.
Tax Defense for Los Angeles
How We Help LA Taxpayers
A dedicated tax law practice serving Los Angeles individuals and businesses with IRS and California state tax defense.
IRS Audit Defense
Los Angeles taxpayers face IRS audits at elevated rates due to high incomes, complex investments, and entertainment industry revenue. We manage the entire audit process — from document requests to appeals — and protect your position.
IRS Audit Defense →Tax Debt Resolution
Owing the IRS or the state of California creates serious consequences — liens on your LA property, wage garnishments, and bank levies. We negotiate offers in compromise, installment agreements, and penalty abatement to resolve your tax debt.
Tax Debt Relief →CDTFA Sales Tax Defense
LA's massive retail and wholesale economy means the CDTFA is constantly auditing businesses for sales tax compliance. We defend against assessments, negotiate settlements, and represent you in CDTFA administrative hearings.
CDTFA Defense →EDD Payroll Tax Defense
Worker misclassification is a major enforcement focus in Los Angeles — especially in entertainment, tech, and the gig economy. We defend against EDD audits and resolve payroll tax assessments for LA employers.
EDD Defense →FTB Income Tax Defense
California's Franchise Tax Board aggressively pursues high-income earners in Los Angeles for residency audits, income adjustments, and estimated tax penalties. We represent LA taxpayers in all FTB disputes and appeals.
FTB Defense →Criminal Tax Defense
When a tax matter turns criminal, the consequences include prison time and devastating financial penalties. We defend Los Angeles clients against IRS Criminal Investigation, tax evasion charges, and tax fraud allegations.
Criminal Tax Defense →Serving Los Angeles Taxpayers
The Numbers Behind Our Practice
3,000+
Tax Cases Handled
$500M+
In Tax Debt Resolved
20+
Years of Tax Law Experience
Service Areas
Los Angeles Neighborhoods & Nearby Cities
We represent clients throughout the greater Los Angeles area, including these neighborhoods and surrounding cities.
For IRS and federal tax matters, we represent clients in all 50 states. For California state tax matters (FTB, CDTFA, EDD), we serve clients in every California county. Our main office is in San Diego.
Why Brotman Law
Why Los Angeles Taxpayers Choose Brotman Law
Tax-Only Practice
We don't do personal injury, family law, or general business litigation. Tax is all we practice — and that specialization is why LA clients choose us over generalist firms.
3,000+ Cases
We've handled more than 3,000 tax cases across every type of IRS and state tax issue. From Beverly Hills to Long Beach, we've resolved tax problems for clients throughout LA.
Entertainment Industry Experience
Los Angeles's entertainment economy creates unique tax challenges — royalty structures, residual income, loan-out companies, and multi-state filming. We understand these issues.
Free Intro Call
Every engagement starts with a free 15-minute call. We'll assess your situation and tell you honestly whether we can help — and what it will cost.
Remote or In-Person
Most of our LA client work is handled remotely by phone and video. In-person meetings are available at our San Diego office or at a mutually convenient LA location.
Attorney-Client Privilege
Everything you share is confidential from the first conversation. Unlike CPAs and enrolled agents, attorneys offer the highest level of legal protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles Tax Attorney FAQs
What LA-specific tax issues should I be aware of?+
Los Angeles taxpayers face several unique tax challenges. California's top marginal income tax rate of 13.3% is the highest in the nation, and high-income earners in LA are frequent targets for FTB audits. The city's entertainment, real estate, and tech industries create complex income streams that draw IRS scrutiny. Additionally, LA's large population of self-employed individuals and gig workers face heightened EDD payroll tax audits. If you have rental properties, the passive activity loss rules and local tax obligations add further complexity. A California tax attorney who understands these LA-specific dynamics can help you navigate both federal and state enforcement.
How does California's high state tax rate affect LA residents?+
California's 13.3% top income tax rate — combined with the mental health services surcharge on incomes over $1 million — makes it the most expensive state for high earners. For Los Angeles residents, this means a combined federal and state marginal rate that can approach 50%. This creates strong incentives for aggressive tax planning, but it also puts LA taxpayers squarely in the crosshairs of the FTB's residency audit program. If you've moved to a no-income-tax state like Nevada or Texas but maintain ties to LA, the FTB may challenge your departure and attempt to tax your worldwide income. We handle residency and multi-state tax disputes for LA clients regularly.
I work remotely from LA for an out-of-state company. What are the tax implications?+
If you live in Los Angeles and work remotely for a company headquartered outside California, you are still subject to California income tax on your earnings. California taxes its residents on worldwide income regardless of where the work is performed. However, complications arise when remote workers split time between states, when they receive equity compensation from out-of-state companies, or when their employer has nexus questions in California. Multi-state tax issues are common for LA's remote workforce, and the stakes can be significant. Our team handles multi-state tax issues to ensure you're not overpaying or inadvertently triggering audit exposure.
Can the entertainment industry trigger IRS audits?+
Yes. Entertainment industry professionals in Los Angeles face elevated IRS audit risk for several reasons. Variable income from residuals, royalties, and back-end participation creates irregular reported income that can trigger IRS algorithmic flags. Loan-out corporations — which are standard in the industry — add complexity around reasonable compensation, retirement plan contributions, and deductible expenses. Business expense deductions for travel, wardrobe, agents, managers, and publicity are scrutinized more closely by the IRS than in most other industries. If you've received an IRS audit notice related to entertainment income, our IRS audit defense team can help you navigate the process and protect your position.
How are real estate investors in LA affected by tax enforcement?+
Los Angeles is one of the most active real estate markets in the country, and both the IRS and California aggressively audit real estate transactions. Common triggers include improperly structured 1031 exchanges, aggressive depreciation strategies, failure to report capital gains on property sales, and mischaracterization of rental income versus dealer income. The IRS also scrutinizes opportunity zone investments and cost segregation studies in the LA market. For landlords, proper reporting of rental income, security deposits, and repair versus improvement expenses is critical. Our firm has extensive experience defending Los Angeles real estate-related tax assessments at both the federal and state level.
Do I need a tax attorney physically located in Los Angeles?+
No. For IRS matters, your attorney can represent you from anywhere in the country — all IRS proceedings are handled through correspondence, phone conferences, and virtual meetings. For California state tax matters (FTB, CDTFA, EDD), any California-licensed attorney can represent you regardless of office location. What matters most is your attorney's depth of experience in tax controversy, not their street address. Brotman Law is headquartered in San Diego and represents clients throughout Los Angeles County and across California. Most of our client communication is handled by phone and video, with in-person meetings available when needed.
Get Started Today
Book Your Free 15-Minute Call
Schedule a brief call with our team to discuss your Los Angeles tax situation. We'll assess where things stand and outline your options — confidentially and without obligation.
- Completely confidential — protected by attorney-client privilege
- Every situation is different — you'll receive a custom assessment tailored to yours
- Same-day and next-day appointments available