Stephen Cromwell, ESQ, CPA

DMV Tax Resolution is the practice of Stephen Cromwell — an attorney, Certified Public Accountant, and NTPI Tax Fellow® based in College Park, Maryland. For over a decade, Stephen has represented individuals and businesses throughout the DC Metro area in resolving IRS and state tax problems.

Most people who contact us are in a difficult situation they didn't plan for. A few years of financial hardship. A business that fell behind on payroll taxes. A divorce that left one spouse with a shared tax liability they didn't know about. An audit notice for deductions they legitimately took. We don't judge how someone got here — we focus on finding the best way forward.

Why attorney + CPA matters

Most tax resolution practitioners are either enrolled agents (EAs) or CPAs. Both can represent clients before the IRS. But neither can take a dispute to Tax Court, the US District Court, or the US Court of Federal Claims. If your case requires litigation — or if the IRS knows you have the option to litigate — the outcome of your negotiation changes.

As an attorney, Stephen can represent clients in all federal tax courts. As a CPA, he understands the financial details of your situation at a level that informs every decision in the resolution process. You don't have to choose between legal expertise and accounting expertise — you get both.

Why local representation matters for DMV clients

Large national tax resolution firms handle federal IRS cases regularly. But Maryland, Virginia, and DC each have their own tax authorities, their own collection processes, and their own resolution programs — and national firms are often unfamiliar with the specifics.

The Maryland Comptroller operates differently from the IRS. The Central Collection Unit (CCU) handles delinquent state accounts and adds collection fees on top of existing balances. The Maryland OIC program has different eligibility criteria than the federal program. Virginia's Department of Taxation has a streamlined installment program but moves aggressively on liens for unresolved accounts. DC OTR operates on its own timeline and resolution process.

When you owe both the IRS and the state, resolving one while the other escalates is a real risk with a national firm. We handle Maryland, Virginia, DC, and federal simultaneously — from a single point of contact who knows all four jurisdictions.

Our approach

We start every engagement by understanding your full picture: what you owe, to whom, why, and what your current financial situation actually looks like. From that, we identify every resolution option available to you — not just the most common ones — and give you an honest assessment of which path makes the most sense.

We don't make promises about outcomes we can't guarantee. What we do promise is that we'll handle every part of the process — communication with the IRS and state authorities, documentation, negotiation — so you can focus on your life while we resolve your tax problem.