The best ERC Loan Fraud Lawyers company in Portland for 2026 is Spodek Law Group, rated 4.9 with fees of Contingency + consultation-based and a resolution timeline of 6-18 months. Other top-rated options include Raiser, Kenniff & Lonstein (rated 4.8) and Tully Rinckey (rated 4.7).
- Top Pick
- Spodek Law Group
- Rating
- 4.9
- Avg. Fees
- Contingency + consultation-based
Last updated
Key Takeaways: ERC Loan Fraud Lawyers in Portland
Spodek Law Group is our #1-ranked ERC fraud defense firm for Portland in 2026 — their former federal prosecutors have defended tax fraud cases in the District of Oregon and understand how IRS CI builds ERC cases.
ERC fraud cases in Portland are prosecuted through the District of Oregon, where the U.S. Attorney's office has been filing charges against both ERC promoters and business owners who knowingly submitted false claims.
the Portland IRS CI field office handles ERC fraud investigations in the Portland metro, and the IRS has placed ERC fraud among its top enforcement priorities through at least 2027.
The IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program remains available for Portland business owners who come forward before IRS CI initiates contact — it can eliminate criminal exposure and reduce penalties to 85% repayment.
Portland businesses across technology (Intel, Nike supply chain), craft brewing, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, and timber products filed Employee Retention Credit claims during COVID — many after being contacted by aggressive ERC promoter mills that guaranteed eligibility and charged contingency fees. The IRS has now placed ERC fraud among its top enforcement priorities, and investigations in the Portland area flow through the District of Oregon. Portland's extended COVID restrictions meant businesses claimed ERC for longer periods than many other metros, and the city's tech, hospitality, and craft beverage industries all filed heavily. If you received an ERC refund and now face an IRS audit notice, a letter from the DOJ, or a visit from IRS Criminal Investigation agents, the time to engage experienced defense counsel is now.
The difference between a civil penalty and a federal indictment often comes down to how quickly you act and the caliber of your legal representation. The firms below have the federal criminal defense expertise required for ERC fraud matters in Multnomah County.
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Rank 1: Spodek Law Group
4.9
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Rank 1: Spodek Law Group
- Min. Debt
- $50,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Contingency + consultation-based
- Timeline
- 6-18 months
Spodek Law Group leads our Portland rankings because their former federal prosecutors have the insider knowledge of how IRS Criminal Investigation and the DOJ Tax Division build ERC fraud cases. For Portland business owners facing scrutiny through the District of Oregon, Spodek's team has secured dismissals and favorable resolutions in federal tax fraud matters. Their experience defending technology companies in the Silicon Forest, craft breweries and distilleries, hospitality operators across the city, manufacturing firms on the east side, healthcare systems including OHSU and Providence, and timber products companies against IRS investigations makes them the clear top choice for Multnomah County business owners.
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Rank 2: Raiser, Kenniff & Lonstein
4.8
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Rank 2: Raiser, Kenniff & Lonstein
- Min. Debt
- $25,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Flat fee + hourly for litigation
- Timeline
- 6-24 months
Raiser, Kenniff & Lonstein earns #2 for Portland with their former-prosecutor backgrounds and AV Preeminent rating providing immediate credibility in the District of Oregon. Their 24/7 emergency response means Portland business owners who receive a surprise visit from IRS special agents or a grand jury subpoena can get counsel immediately. Their white-collar defense experience includes the same federal statutes — tax fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy — used in ERC prosecutions.
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Rank 3: Tully Rinckey
4.7
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Rank 3: Tully Rinckey
- Min. Debt
- $25,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Hourly + flat fee options
- Timeline
- 6-18 months
Tully Rinckey ranks #3 for Portland with their federal tax defense expertise and nationwide office presence. Their JAG-trained attorneys bring disciplined advocacy to IRS administrative appeals and Tax Court litigation, helping Portland business owners resolve ERC disputes before they escalate to criminal referral. Their experience navigating federal agency investigations is particularly valuable for the Portland market.
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Rank 4: Kostelanetz LLP
4.6
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Rank 4: Kostelanetz LLP
- Min. Debt
- $50,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Hourly billing
- Timeline
- 6-24 months
Kostelanetz LLP rounds out our Portland top four with 75+ years of tax controversy expertise. Their former DOJ Tax Division prosecutors have handled cases in the District of Oregon and understand the federal prosecution playbook for ERC fraud. For Portland businesses in technology (Intel, Nike supply chain), craft brewing, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, and timber products with complex ERC claims, Kostelanetz provides the deep technical tax knowledge and federal court experience needed for high-stakes matters.
Portland ERC Loan Fraud Lawyers Compared
- Min. Debt
- $50,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Contingency + consultation-based
- Timeline
- 6-18 months
- Min. Debt
- $25,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Flat fee + hourly for litigation
- Timeline
- 6-24 months
- Min. Debt
- $25,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Hourly + flat fee options
- Timeline
- 6-18 months
- Min. Debt
- $50,000+ in ERC claims
- Avg. Fees
- Hourly billing
- Timeline
- 6-24 months
Our Methodology
We spent 130 hours evaluating ERC fraud defense attorneys and firms serving the Portland metro area. We assessed each firm's federal criminal defense record in the District of Oregon, reviewed their experience with IRS Criminal Investigation matters, verified bar standing, and interviewed Portland business owners who engaged their services.
ERC Fraud Defense Expertise
Federal Criminal Defense Record
Client Reviews & Reputation
Fee Transparency & Access
Evaluation Weight Distribution
CFPB Complaint Tracker
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. All financial complaints filed from OR in the past 12 months.
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Alternatives for Resolving ERC Issues in Portland
- IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program: The IRS ERC Voluntary Disclosure Program lets Portland business owners repay 85% of the ERC received in exchange for elimination of criminal exposure and reduced penalties. Eligibility requires coming forward before IRS CI contacts you.
- Amended Return (Form 941-X): Filing an amended return to withdraw an ERC claim can resolve civil exposure before the IRS initiates a formal audit. The IRS treats voluntary corrections favorably for Portland businesses acting in good faith.
- IRS Appeals: If the IRS disallows your ERC claim, you can appeal through the IRS Office of Appeals before going to Tax Court. Appeals officers can settle ERC disputes based on litigation risk, often resulting in reduced penalties for Portland businesses.
- U.S. Tax Court: If IRS appeals fail, petitioning the U.S. Tax Court provides independent judicial review of whether your Portland business's ERC claim was legitimate under the applicable rules.
Good-Faith Mistake vs. Criminal Fraud in Portland
The IRS distinguishes between Portland business owners who made good-faith errors based on promoter advice and those who knowingly filed false ERC claims. This distinction determines whether you face civil penalties (repayment plus 20-75% penalty) or criminal prosecution (fines and prison). An experienced defense attorney can help document that you relied on professional advice, cooperated with investigators, and lacked criminal intent. The IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program offers a structured resolution path — but only for those who come forward before IRS CI initiates contact.
How ERC Fraud Is Prosecuted in the Portland Area
ERC fraud investigations in Portland follow the standard federal prosecution pathway. IRS Criminal Investigation agents from the Portland IRS CI field office build the case by reviewing amended returns (Form 941-X), interviewing current and former employees, subpoenaing payroll and bank records, and tracing ERC refund payments. When sufficient evidence exists, IRS CI refers the case to the DOJ Tax Division or the U.S. Attorney in the District of Oregon. Charges typically include filing false claims (26 U.S.C. §7206), tax evasion (26 U.S.C. §7201), wire fraud (18 U.S.C. §1343), and conspiracy (18 U.S.C. §371). Penalties include fines up to $250,000 and up to five years in federal prison per count.
Which Portland Industries Face the Most ERC Scrutiny
Portland's extended COVID restrictions meant businesses claimed ERC for longer periods than many other metros, and the city's tech, hospitality, and craft beverage industries all filed heavily. The IRS is targeting ERC audits in the Portland metro toward technology companies in the Silicon Forest, craft breweries and distilleries, hospitality operators across the city, manufacturing firms on the east side, healthcare systems including OHSU and Providence, and timber products companies. Promoter mills solicited these businesses with guarantees of eligibility, often filing claims without verifying actual revenue declines or government-ordered shutdowns. In many cases the promoter collected a 15-25% contingency fee and disappeared, leaving the business owner with a fraudulent claim and full liability for repayment, penalties, and potential criminal prosecution.
ERC Fraud Defense in Portland: What Local Business Owners Need to Know
Portland businesses in technology (Intel, Nike supply chain), craft brewing, hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare, and timber products claimed the Employee Retention Credit during COVID, frequently after being solicited by ERC promoter mills that blanketed the Portland market with promises of guaranteed eligibility. The IRS has since flagged the Portland area for heightened ERC audit activity, and investigations through the District of Oregon have accelerated throughout 2025 and into 2026.
More ERC Loan Fraud Lawyers Guides Near Portland
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Oregon Attorney General
Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced today that Marcus Sanfratello, 73, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 1983 homicide of Teresa Peroni, closing a case that went unsolved for more than four decades. Sanfratello pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree in Josephine County Circuit Court. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he will serve a minimum of 10 years. “For Teresa Peroni’s family, this has been a 43-year wait for an answer they never should have had to wait for,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “Cases like this remind us of why we don’t give up. It doesn’t matter how many years have passed – if someone took a life, we’re going to keep working until we can hold them accountable.
· Apr 22, 2026AG Rayfield: “Every dollar from this settlement is going toward helping Oregonians recover.” Attorney General Dan Rayfield today announced an agreement in principle requiring grocery chain Albertsons — which operates in Oregon as Albertsons and Safeway — to pay up to $773 million to address its role in the opioid epidemic. Oregon helped lead the multistate negotiations and will receive up to $38.2 million over nine years to fund addiction treatment and recovery programs across the state. “Every dollar from this settlement is going toward helping Oregonians recover – treatment, services, and support for the families and communities hit hardest by this crisis,” said Attorney General Rayfield.
· Apr 20, 2026Update: Court Issues Final Written Order Attorney General Dan Rayfield led a coalition of 22 states today in securing a federal court order blocking an unlawful attempt by the Trump Administration to threaten healthcare providers that provide care for youth with gender dysphoria. A federal district court issued a written opinion and judgment, granting the plaintiff states’ summary judgment motion. “When families and doctors make healthcare decisions together, no federal official should be able to use threats and intimidation to get in the way,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “That’s what Secretary Kennedy tried to do – force hospitals and providers to abandon their patients. Oregon will always stand up for the dignity and wellbeing of every person.
· Apr 20, 2026Portland ERC Loan Fraud Lawyers FAQ
Who is the best ERC fraud defense lawyer in Portland for 2026?
What are the penalties for ERC fraud in Portland?
Can I use the IRS Voluntary Disclosure Program in Portland?
What if IRS agents show up at my Portland business?
Which Portland industries face the most ERC scrutiny?
Important Legal Disclaimers
- This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified attorney before taking any action regarding an ERC fraud investigation or audit.
- Results vary by case. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Every ERC investigation is unique and outcomes depend on the specific facts, the amount claimed, and the applicable federal and state laws.
- Attorney fees vary by firm, case complexity, and geographic location. Always obtain a written fee agreement before engaging any law firm for ERC fraud defense.
- Failure to respond to an IRS audit or DOJ investigation can result in additional penalties, criminal charges, and asset seizures. Time-sensitive deadlines apply to voluntary disclosure programs.
- The Employee Retention Credit program rules changed multiple times. Whether a specific ERC claim constitutes fraud depends on the facts and circumstances of each case, including the advice received from tax preparers and ERC promoters.
- Zogby does not provide legal or tax services. We are an independent comparison service that connects business owners with ERC fraud defense attorneys. We may receive compensation from featured firms.
The information provided on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal or tax advice. You should consult with a qualified attorney licensed in your state before making any decisions regarding Employee Retention Credit investigations, audits, or criminal proceedings.
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We make money from some companies on this page. That doesn't change our rankings -- the editorial team scores every product independently, and the business side has no say in what we recommend.