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Tax Lawyers in Waco, TX: 2026 rankings

6 tax lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest LFR Score in Waco: Partners Tax - Waco, LFR Score 59/100; 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews; open Saturdays until 8 PM.

  2. 3

    Open 24 hours (per Google): Dеfеnsе Tax Rеlіef, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #3 of 6.

  3. 2

    Most-reviewed: Pakis, Giotes, Burleson & Deaconson, P.C., 18 Google reviews at 4.1★, the most of 6 ranked; ranked #2.

Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

6 Waco tax lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. 1 is open 24/7, 2 open Saturdays and 1 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.3★ across 6 rated law firms.

Top 6 tax lawyers in Waco at a glance

Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.

Top 6 tax lawyers in Waco at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inHoursNotable for
1Partners Tax - Waco595.0★ (10)WacoSat · EveningsTop score
2Pakis, Giotes, Burleson & Deaconson, P.C.584.1★ (18)Waco—Most reviews
3Dеfеnsе Tax Rеlіef575.0★ (12)Temple, 34 mi awayOpen 24 hrs (Google)Open 24 hours
4Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee, PLLC564.1★ (9)Waco——
5Cure & Francis, P.A.524.5★ (17)Temple, 38 mi away——
6Popelka Law Firm, PLLC484.2★ (5)Temple, 34 mi away——

All 6 tax lawyers in Waco, in rank order

Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.

Scores below: based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.

  6. #6 Popelka Law Firm, PLLC

    Based in Temple, 34 mi away

    48/100LFR Score

    Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.2★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Estate planning attorney”.

    • 4.2★ from 5 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    6173 W Adams Ave C-201, Temple, TX 76502
    View profile for Popelka Law Firm, PLLC(254) 239-3425

How we ranked Waco tax lawyers

We scored 6 Waco tax lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

LFR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn Waco data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Bar status10%An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded)Not yet collected
Review volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the listMeasured
Recency10%Share of reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability5%Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7Measured
Practice focus15%How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity5%An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same)Measured
Law Firms Ranked reviews10%Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there areMeasured

How to choose a tax lawyer

  1. Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
  2. Ask how many tax law matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
  3. Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
  4. Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
  5. Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
  6. Ask whether the lawyer handles audits, collections and Tax Court, or only planning.
  7. Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.

Questions to ask a tax lawyer

  • How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
  • How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
  • Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
  • Do you handle audits and appeals yourself?
  • Is my situation civil, or could it become criminal?
  • Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?

Terms explained

Contingency fee
A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
Retainer
Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
Flat fee
One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
Limited-scope representation
Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
Statute of limitations
The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
Good standing
A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
Law society
The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
Board certification
Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
Attorney–client privilege
The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
Conflict check
The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
Pro bono
Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Legal aid
Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.

Tax lawyers in Waco: frequently asked questions

Which tax lawyer has the highest LFR Score in Waco?

By LFR Score, the highest-ranked tax lawyer in Waco, TX is Partners Tax - Waco with an LFR Score of 59/100. It has 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews. It is open Saturdays until 8 PM. Pakis, Giotes, Burleson & Deaconson, P.C. (#2) and Dеfеnsе Tax Rеlіef (#3) follow. We ranked 6 tax lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many tax lawyers are there in Waco?

LawFirmsRanked ranks 6 tax lawyers serving Waco, TX. 3 of them are based in Waco; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.

Which tax lawyers in Waco are open 24/7?

1 ranked tax lawyer in Waco posts 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked is Dеfеnsе Tax Rеlіef (#3). Hours come from each law firm's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.

Which tax lawyers in Waco work on weekends?

2 of 6 ranked tax lawyers post Saturday hours and 1 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Partners Tax - Waco (#1) and Dеfеnsе Tax Rеlіef (#3). Posted hours are office hours; many firms meet clients by appointment outside them.

What Google rating do Waco tax lawyers have?

The median Google rating among 6 rated tax lawyers in Waco is 4.3★, with a median of 11 reviews. Pakis, Giotes, Burleson & Deaconson, P.C. has the most, 18 reviews, and ranks #2. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does LawFirmsRanked rank tax lawyers?

Each tax lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do tax lawyers outside Waco count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 40 mi of the Waco city center, our service radius for tax lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.

Can tax lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?

No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.

How do tax lawyers in Waco, TX charge?

Tax lawyers usually bill hourly; some offer flat fees for defined work such as an offer in compromise. Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $446 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.

Should I hire a tax lawyer, a CPA or an enrolled agent?

All three can represent taxpayers before the IRS (Treasury Circular 230). A tax lawyer adds legal privilege for advice and can represent you in Tax Court and in criminal tax matters. This is general information, not legal advice.

How is this list of tax lawyers in Waco, TX ranked?

By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.

Does a lawyer need an office in Waco?

No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.

Update log for Waco

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 6 tax lawyers serving Waco.

More tax lawyers and Waco pages