Tax Relief Lawyers in Hattiesburg

"Tax relief" is a term used to describe a few different concepts in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. It sometimes refers to actions that lower the tax rate that some taxpayers are obliged to pay.

When a politician or government official uses the term "tax relief," they are typically referring to tax cuts, which are simply a reduction in the tax rate for everyone, or some people.

However, many people in the general public, especially in these troubled economic times, often hear the words "tax relief" used in a completely different context. The phrase has become synonymous with businesses and individuals who claim they have some special method to help you lower your tax liability in Mississippi. While some of these offers are legitimate, many of them are scams, and if you hire them, you'll end up in a worse position than you were before.

Tax Relief Scams in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Many scammers in Hattiesburg, Mississippi claim that they can completely discharge you of your obligation to pay your taxes - for a fee, of course.

In most cases, however, these people have absolutely no legal means to truly help their "clients" ("victims" is the more accurate term), and will simply take your money and disappear. Fortunately, these scams in Hattiesburg, Mississippi typically have a few elements that are dead giveaways, which you should always be on the look out for if you're considering hiring someone offering "tax relief."

One of the biggest warning signs that one should look for is an unequivocal promise that someone can eliminate your tax debt. This is simply not a promise that anyone can honestly make. While the IRS does have programs to advise people who are really unable to pay their back taxes, through no fault of their own, they only apply in the most extreme cases, so the vast majority of taxpayers in Hattiesburg, Mississippi don't qualify for them.

Additionally, you should be wary of anyone promising tax relief, but demands payment immediately, before they truly do anything. Many scammers in Hattiesburg will convince their victims to pay them upfront, and then simply take the money and run. They may even make additional, unauthorized, charges to your credit card or bank account.

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Hattiesburg, Mississippi 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 Hattiesburg, Mississippi tax lawyer.

A skilled and reputable tax attorney in Hattiesburg, Mississippi 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.