Tax Relief Lawyers in Hercules

"Tax relief" in Hercules, California can refer to a wide range of subjects. However, it almost exclusively refers to lowering the tax liability, either of an individual, or a group of individuals.

When a politician or other government official uses the term "tax relief," they're mostly commonly talking about tax cuts, or some other actual or contemplated government action which would reduce the tax liability of some individuals or corporations.

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 requirement to pay the taxes. Most of the time, they'll say that they have brilliant negotiators on their staff who can negotiate with the tax collectors in California or the IRS, to lower your tax bill. Some of these businesses are straightforward, and have the best interests of their customers in mind. However, many of them are scams.

Tax Relief Scams in Hercules, California

Scammers in Hercules, California often claim that they can employ some exceptional method enabling you pay the IRS less than you really owe, or even erase your tax debt.

However, in most cases, these people have no capacity or intent to assist their "clients," and will simply take the money and run. In order to spot a tax relief scam, there are a few things that residents of Hercules, California can look for.

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 explicit guarantee that they can lower your tax bill. While there are some legal ways to try and reduce your tax requirement, including negotiating with the IRS, there is no guarantee that they will prevail. And although the IRS does have programs to help people who are absolutely unable to pay for their taxes, they are only available to very small subset of the population, and most Hercules, California taxpayers aren't qualified to participate in them.

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

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Hercules, California 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 talk with a Hercules, California tax lawyer.

Your tax lawyer in Hercules, California will be able to give you real, useful advice about your tax situation. Just be ready: your tax attorney will give you honest advice, whether or not that's what you want to hear. Additionally, in the unlikely event that a licensed tax attorney defrauds you (or attempts to defraud you), you will have considerable legal recourse against that attorney through your state bar association.