Ellyn Tanenberg, Attorney & CPA

My close family member, who was in great distress, engaged Ellyn Tanenberg to resolve large IRS penalties. In their meeting, the family member found her to be warm, patient, and a good listener. Ms. Tanenberg developed a strategy to obtain the best result possible and then presented the case to the IRS with accuracy and honesty. She exhibited great attention to detail to prove that this family member met the requirements for the successful abatement that she sought. The result was a total abatement of the penalties which is the outcome she was seeking. We fully recommend retaining her services to resolve IRS tax issues.

Full Disclosure: I ended up using a different attorney for my tax situation. But I wanted to write this to say, I believe Ellyn is among the very best when it comes to dealing with the DC Office of Tax and Revenue about tax controversies and audits for small business owners. She understands the requirements and the law, and has the right know-how and contacts to get messy tax situations resolved. She responded to each of my multiple phone calls about my situation immediately and gave me more of her time than any typical DC attorney would to discuss my case and how she intended to go about bringing it to a resolution. Of course, this level of service comes at a premium price, which is to be expected. I went with a different attorney not because I lacked confidence that Ellyn couldn't handle my situation, but because I have a fair amount of tax experience myself and didn't need the level of attention and support that Ellyn was willing and able to provide. But if you are just a small business owner that has little to no knowledge regarding taxes, and you want to be absolutely confident that your controversy will be resolved as favorably as can be, Ellyn would be my first call.

I found Ellyn online after realising I had missed submitting a state tax return. From our very first interaction, she impressed me with her deep expertise and meticulous approach. She analysed thoroughly all my prior tax returns, identified necessary adjustments, and guided me through the complex process of becoming fully compliant. Although it was a long and costly journey, I am now completely up-to-date on all my taxes—a huge relief.

Ellyn’s dual qualification as both a CPA and a tax attorney proved to be a major advantage. She was able to navigate both the numerical and legal intricacies of my tax situation with ease. Her comprehensive understanding of tax law and IRS regulations gave me great confidence throughout the process.

She also maintains an excellent working relationship with the DC tax authorities and was never hesitant to seek clarification or press for timely responses when needed. I felt that we worked extremely well as a team—she took the time to understand my personal situation and goals, and tailored her approach accordingly.

What sets Ellyn apart is her combination of precision, insight, and judgment. She is incredibly detail-oriented, yet decisive once all possibilities have been thoroughly explored. Throughout, I have been consistently impressed by her integrity, her commitment to doing what’s right for her clients, and her ability to resolve complex tax issues with confidence and care.

I recommend her without reservation.