Tax Relief Lawyers in Georgetown

"Tax relief" in Georgetown, Delaware 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 you hear the term "tax relief" used by an elected official, or someone running for office, they're almost always talking about tax cuts, which would supposedly apply to the speaker's target audience. A tax cut is simply a reduction in the percentage of one's income (or whatever else is being taxed) that they have to pay in taxes.

However, many people associate the phrase "tax relief" with individuals, corporations, or law firms that offer services claiming to reduce or eliminate one's tax liability - getting them out of their obligation to pay the taxes. Most of the time, they'll say that they have proficient negotiators on their staff who can negotiate with the tax collectors in Delaware or the IRS, to lower your tax bill. Some of these businesses are honest, and have the best interests of their customers in mind. However, many of them are scams.

Tax Relief Scams in Georgetown, Delaware

It is pretty common for scammers in Georgetown, Delaware to claim that, for a relatively small fee, they will help you get out of paying all of your taxes.

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

One of the strongest indications that you're dealing with a scammer is if they guarantee that they can deliver a particular result. When it comes to negotiating with the IRS or state tax authorities, there are simply no guarantees, and a competent and ethical tax relief professional will know this, and tell you as much. The unfortunate fact is that, while the IRS does have programs allowing people to negotiate a lower tax bill, they only apply to people in extreme examples, who are unable to pay their taxes through no fault of their own. Most Georgetown, Delaware residents will not be eligible.

Another red flag to look for is a demand of a large up-front payment. Many tax relief scammers in Georgetown will not even pretend to try and help you. Instead, they simply take the money and disappear, sometimes after making additional, and unapproved, charges to your credit card or withdrawals from your bank account.

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Georgetown, Delaware Help?

If you find that you are unable to pay your taxes, through no fault of your own, you may be tempted to answer an advertisement for a "tax relief" company. Before that, you should speak with a Georgetown, Delaware tax lawyer.

A competent and reputable tax attorney in Georgetown, Delaware will give you objective legal advice on how to handle a tax law issue. A good 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.