Tax Relief Lawyers in Columbiana

"Tax relief" in Columbiana, Alabama can refer to a wide range of subjects. However, it almost always refers to lowering the tax liability, either of an individual, or a group of people.

When a government official or politician talks about "tax relief," they are typically talking about a tax cut, which is a reduction in a particular tax rate.

But, many members of the general public, especially in recent years, associate "tax relief" with businesses or individuals who claim they can lower your tax liability - typically advertising on the Internet or the radio. These advertisements frequently claim that they have skilled lawyers and negotiators who can help you get out of your duty to pay taxes. While many of these organizations are legitimate, and are actually interested in helping their clients, a substantial percentage of "tax relief" organizations in Alabama are scams.

Tax Relief Scams in Columbiana, Alabama

Some con-artists in Columbiana, Alabama say that they have some secret technique that permits you to reduce the amount of taxes you're legally obliged to pay, or that they can erase any tax debt that you have incurred.

But you should beware: no honest tax relief business in Columbiana, Alabama will make such promises, because they know it's almost always impossible to deliver on them. Fortunately, there are some features you can look for to help you spot - and avoid - tax relief scammers.

There is one warning sign that virtually guarantees that the tax relief company you're dealing with intends to defraud you: if they make an unequivocal guarantee that they can lower your tax bill. While there are some legal ways to try and reduce your tax obligation, including negotiating with the IRS, there is no guarantee that they will succeed. And although the IRS does have programs to advise people who are really unable to pay for their taxes, they are only available to very small subset of the population, and most Columbiana, Alabama taxpayers aren't suitable to participate in them.

Additionally, any demand for upfront payment, before any actual services are rendered, is another warning sign that you may be dealing with a fraudster. This is because many tax scammers in Columbiana will simply take whatever money you give them, and drop off the face of the Earth (figuratively, unfortunately), without doing anything to help you, or even pretending to. Adding insult to injury, if you pay them with a credit card, they may well make additional unauthorized charges to it.

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Columbiana, Alabama Help?

If you find that you can't pay your taxes, and this is not a result of any fault or irresponsibility on your part, a tax attorney in Columbiana, Alabama may well be able to advise you.

A skilled and reputable tax attorney in Columbiana, Alabama will give you objective legal advice on how to handle a tax law issue. A knowledgeable tax attorney delivering honest advice, however, will tell you the truth, which may not necessarily be what you want to hear. The upside, of course, is that the information they're giving you is actually useful, as opposed to the "advice" given to you by a tax relief scammer, which, if followed, would put you in a worse position than you were before. Plus, you will have a good deal of legal recourse against a tax attorney, in the unlikely event that a licensed attorney defrauds you.