*Note: CPAs may specialize in different areas. Be sure to check credentials and service offerings.*
If this is your first time working with a CPA, don’t worry — most professionals offer a free consultation and will walk you through what to expect. You may be asked to complete an intake form, share financial documents, or set clear goals for your session.
*Note: Every CPA operates a bit differently. Don’t hesitate to ask questions before committing.*
*Tip: Organize your documents in advance to save time and ensure accuracy.*
*Note: Preparation helps you make the most of your CPA’s expertise.*
*Note: Every CPA is different — take time to find one who fits your goals and style.*
23 Corporate Plaza Dr #100
Newport Beach, California 92660
Daniel and his staff have been a crucial part of us being able to overcome some unfortunate errors as our business has grown from our garage to nationwide. His insight and steady hand in dealing wit the tax process on both the federal and state level have been nothing short of stellar. I confidently see Daniel as not just a tax attorney, but a key partner to navigate the world of taxation. We keep him on speed dial!
I normally don?t write reviews like this, but I feel like I need to share what happened to me in case it helps someone else avoid the same mistake. I hired Daniel Layton several years ago to help me deal with a serious IRS audit. At first, he seemed sharp and confident, which gave me peace of mind. But after more than five years, yes, five years, the case was still not resolved. I paid thousands of dollars in legal bills, many of which were for things I still don?t understand, and there was no real progres
Daniel and his assistant, Melissa, were wonderful, caring and communicative. They kept me up to date through the whole innocent spouse process. Dan made a tough situation tolerable, straightforward and simple. The outcome was in my favor because of Dan's hard work. I highly recommend Daniel Layton for any tough tax situation that you may find yourself in.
Daniel is an exceptional attorney and a great person. His experience makes him incredibly qualified to handle tax cases. He took the time to completely understand my situation and advised the best course of action. Throughout the lengthy process he was attentive, patient, kind and meticulous. Melissa, paralegal at the firm, is also a joy to work with and equally exacting in her standards and process. I highly recommend this firm.
I think it's safe to say that no one is comfortable dealing with the IRS. It's a process that can be both challenging and stressful. But it is comforting to have professional representation when confronted by the IRS. And Mr. Daniel Layton provides that needed professionalism when questioned by the IRS. His incredible knowledge, experience and understanding of the tax codes, and the workings of the IRS are very beneficial. I highly recommend Mr. Layton for any contested tax related matters. L.W. Simon
My experience with Daniel Layton was underwhelming ? I retained the firm in January 2023, and after 2 years I have not received a final bill with a precise amount from the IRS. After reviews were posted, Daniel contacted me on November 25, 2024, via email and asked me to remove my reviews in exchange for refunds. As a consumer, I strongly believe that it is essential for prospective clients to learn from the journeys of past clients. It is unacceptable for any firm to manipulate online reviews of its servic
I had the pleasure of working with Daniel Layton for my tax issues, and I couldn't be happier with the results. As a former IRS agent, he has an unparalleled understanding of the law and the inner workings of the IRS. His expertise and attention to detail were evident from the moment we began working together. What truly sets Daniel apart is his sense of humor and personable approach to dealing with clients. He made a daunting and stressful process (almost) enjoyable. His ability to explain complex tax iss
I can?t recommend Daniel?s services highly enough! I was in a mess and he 1000% got me over the hump! Great knowledge, professionalism and patience :) Reach out to Daniel and his office if you?re looking for a tax attorney that actually cares and knows what they?re talking about! Truly!
Professional, Competent, Efficient and experienced. Working with Daniel Layton was beyond positive. He immediately assessed my situation and went to work on a very complicated situation. After years of hitting dead ends, Mr. Layton was able to come to a positive solution in a few months. He is competent, professional efficient and experienced. Initially I thought I was unable to afford a lawyer but his fees are beyond fair. I would highly recommend Daniel Layton. Because of his expertise and willingn
Daniel Layton, Esq. is an excellent attorney. He has been knowledgeable, effective, professional, and courteous. His billing practices are also very fair. He keeps me informed, answers my questions, and provides good legal advice. Given his previous experience working for the IRS, he offers me valuable insight into the process. I feel fortunate to have met him. I recommend him highly as a tax attorney.
I contacted Daniel after I received a letter from the IRS that I was being audited. I was feeling very lost and overwhelmed with the prospect of an audit, the number of items the IRS was requesting and the short time frame to respond. Even though I had "audit insurance" from the business where I had my taxes prepared, I felt uneasy about their proposed approach and felt I needed a second opinion regarding my situation. I was impressed with Daniel's credentials, education and experience and contacted Dan
I cannot recommend Daniel (and his paralegal Melissa) highly enough. The IRS sent us a notice from many years ago with incorrect accounting. I was terrified because the penalties were huge and this was from many years back. Daniel is extremely knowledgable. In a very efficient manner he collected all the required information and sent a challenge to the IRS. He knows the ins-and-out of the tax agency and knows whom to contact (exact individual) for specific appeals. Daniel's work has saved me and my fami
Daniel and his team members are professional and successfully resolved our problems with FTB and IRS. I highly recommend him if you have any tax issues.
I am a physician and was currently in collections from the IRS because I mistakenly used a Turbo Tax Referral (TTR) Company that failed to accurately report the requested IRS information I had provide to the TTR Company. A close friend to me recommended I search for an attorney who had strong experience working for the IRS but also a strong academic background who not understood the regulations but the theory of law behind the regulations. I found 3 attorneys, made contact with all three, and settled on
Daniel and staff were a pleasure to work with throughout the legal process. All questions were answered quickly, all documents prepared accurately. Dealing with the IRS is a scary process and I hope never to do it again. But if I do, I know who to call? Daniel Layton!
Finding Layton & Lopez Tax Attorneys was like hitting the jack pot. We FINALLY found a firm that was expertly knowledgeable in handling challenges with the IRS. Daniel Layton was our main client contact, and he worked very closely with us. We did everything he told us to do, and we were able to reach a reasonable agreement with the IRS. We tried two other law firms before them, which resulted in wasted money. We are very grateful to Layton & Lopez for resolving an issue that had been ongoing for 15 ye
Daniel is an extremely professional, knowledgeable and responsive attorney. His guidance through complex situations with his unique expertise is invaluable. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
Mr Layton is a very knowledgeable and trustworthy attorney well versed in matters concerning the IRS. He patientley explained everything clearly and kept me up to date regularly regarding my case. He helped make what was a very difficult problem to deal with a great deal less stressful. I am very pleased with the final outcome and grateful for his service.
Daniel is consummate professional whose knowledge in tax law go well beyond most tax attorneys. Also, his accessibility and his willingness to keep me well-informed on the status of my case really helped to ease my mind. I just wanted to thank Daniel again as I could not be any happier with the outcome of the case.
I was sent one of those seemingly harmless letters from the CA FTB last year seeking information on a 4 year old tax return. After trying to communicate with the FTB, I was sent a demand letter for nearly $37K in taxes! I did not believe I had done anything wrong, yet I knew I needed someone who could cut through the bureaucracy of the CA FTB to help tell my story. I found Mr. Layton via a Google search, and after an extensive conversation about the facts, he took my case. After 6 months of working with
Daniel is an exceptional Tax Attorney with unparalleled knowledge, having served as a former IRS trial attorney, and ex-federal prosecutor. Daniel is extremely articulate, honest, accessible, and yields positive results for his clients. He bills fairly, and accurately. Daniel is by far, the best tax attorney in Southern California.
Mr Layton was highly recommended by a former IRS manager I know. I find there is no substitute for the first hand knowledge gained by people like Mr Layton who actually worked for a government agency. Not only that, but Mr Layton is genuinely kind and concerned with helping you. Lastly, and unusually, his billing was very reasonable for his excellent advice.
I hired this law office to represent me before the California Franchise Tax Board. The FTB had decided to audit one of my state tax returns. Daniel Layton, the attorney that represented me, was fantastic! He was constantly in touch with me, letting me know of everything that was happening and making recommendations on how to proceed. I have hired other law firms where you never hear from anyone for months and there's no one to communicate with. But not here. This firm's client communication is top notch and
Daniel is an exceptional attorney. He is knowledgeable, effective, professional and caring. I have had several attorneys over the past few years and Daniel is the only one I have had complete confidence in. I could not more be more pleased with the work he has done for me.
I am a C.P.A. who has used Daniel and his firm for various client issues and tax law questions. My work with Daniel and his staff has been very professional and with positive results. Daniel's knowledge of tax law and IRS procedure have been invaluable to me.
Daniel resolved my issue quickly and amazingly competently. I wasted 6 months with a different lawyer who fumbled and bumbled my issue so be careful who you hire. Daniel and Melissa kept me updated clearly and regularly just at promised and exceeded all deadlines and expectations. What an all-star! Thank you Daniel!
I highly recommend Daniels services. I found him to be very knowledgeable in both tax law and IRS proceedings. As a former IRS investigator he has unique knowledge which results in very good advice. You won't be disappointed!
Daniel provided the best tax advice for us. He has an amazing experience from his work at the IRS, he is very friendly and down-to-Earth. I would highly recommend Daniel to anyone who is undergoing a tax audit.
I am relaying information about Layton & Lopez Tax attorneys for my boss who told me his story. Although he wanted to post himself, his status in the OC business community makes it that he could not advertise his financial situation in his name, just know that RWT is quite famous here in Orange County... But long story short, everyone at the firm of Layton & Lopez are true miracle workers. RWT had a bit above 2 million in tax liability. He went through 3 firms before being recommended to visit Layton & Lop
I highly recommend Daniel. I had a California tax issue of receiving a 10 year old bill, which belonged to my ex-husband. Unfortunately I had signed a tax form. Daniel was very thorough in making my case and showed all the facts. It took ten months but we won.
Daniel with his IRS Administrative & IRS Trial Experience makes him the first Tax Professional that you call when you have a difficult and complex IRS problem. I have worked with Daniel on some very complicated IRS Tax cases and found him to be very analytical and a true problem solver.
Daniel Layton and his team have helped me and a number of my clients for many years. Highly recommend! Very professional and trustworthy!
This firm was very professional, knowledgeable and responsive, taking the time to answer my questions and concerns and giving me a high level of comfort and confidence at every turn. They were explanatory with every aspect of the process, friendly, personable and communicative at a level that I could understand with complex issues. Their pricing was fair and the services excellent. I would not hesitate to recommend this firm and would definitely use them in the future.
Mr. Layton is an exceptional tax attorney that resolved problems that 3 so-called CPA's couldn't, with just a simple letter. Exceptional tax attorney.
Professional and Total expert in the subject and handled my case all the way to the Washington DC court! Proving my defense and defeating the IRS!!! Would highly recommend to anyone who wants a true pro!
I called with a tax question and Daniel was able to help me and refer me to other professionals to assist. He spent quite a bit of time with me on the phone and was courteous and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend.
Very professional and knowledgeable and easy to work with. Completely understood the issue and how to deal with it in the most efficient way. Highly recommend.
Look for a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, which ensures they’ve passed rigorous exams and meet state requirements. Check for relevant experience in your industry, additional certifications like CFA or CMA, and membership in professional organizations like the AICPA. Verify their credentials through state licensing boards.
Use online directories like the AICPA, CPAverify, or state CPA societies. Search platforms like Yelp or Google for local CPAs with reviews. Ask for referrals from business associates, friends, or financial advisors. Local chambers of commerce can also provide recommendations.
A CPA is a licensed professional who has passed the CPA exam and met state requirements for education and experience. An accountant may lack this certification and could have varying levels of expertise. For complex tasks like tax audits or financial reporting, a CPA is typically more qualified.
Ask about their experience with your specific financial needs, such as tax preparation, small business accounting, or estate planning. Review their website or LinkedIn for case studies or client testimonials. Inquire about their client base to ensure they handle similar financial situations.
Yes, reviews provide insight into a CPA’s reliability, communication, and performance. Check platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau for client feedback. Look for patterns in reviews, but verify their authenticity, as some may be biased or outdated.
Visit your state’s Board of Accountancy website or use CPAverify.org to check a CPA’s license status. Confirm their license is active and check for any disciplinary actions or complaints. This ensures they’re in good standing and meet professional standards.
Ask about their experience with your financial needs, fee structure, availability, and communication style. Inquire how they handle tax filings, audits, or financial planning. Ask for references or examples of similar work to assess their expertise and fit.
Fees vary based on location, services, and complexity. Basic tax preparation may cost $150-$500, while business accounting or audits can range from $1,000 to $10,000+. Request a detailed fee structure upfront and compare quotes from multiple CPAs.
Yes, many CPAs offer remote services through secure online platforms for document sharing and virtual consultations. Ensure they use encrypted tools for data security. Remote CPAs can be effective if they understand your local tax laws or business regulations.
During consultations, evaluate their ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly. Ask sample questions about taxes or financial strategies and note their responsiveness and clarity. Good communication ensures you understand their advice and fosters a productive relationship.
Beware of CPAs who guarantee specific tax refunds, lack a valid license, or have disciplinary actions on record. Avoid those with poor communication, vague fee structures, or negative reviews highlighting unethical behavior. Always verify their credentials independently.
Large firms offer more resources and specialized teams but may charge higher fees. Solo practitioners often provide personalized service and lower costs but may have limited availability. Choose based on your needs, budget, and preference for personalized attention.
For individuals, annual meetings for tax preparation may suffice. Businesses may need quarterly or monthly check-ins for bookkeeping, tax planning, or financial reporting. Discuss your needs upfront to establish a meeting schedule that aligns with your financial goals.
Yes, many CPAs handle both, but confirm their expertise in both areas. Ask about their experience managing personal taxes and business accounting simultaneously. Ensure they can balance both without compromising attention to your specific financial needs.
Discuss concerns directly with your CPA to resolve issues. If unresolved, check your contract for termination terms. Seek a new CPA by researching reviews, credentials, and referrals. Request your financial records to ensure a smooth transition to a new professional.