Tax Relief Lawyers in Stockton
"Tax relief" in Stockton, 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 often talking about tax cuts, or some other actual or prospective government action which would reduce the tax liability of some individuals or corporations.
However, many people in the general public, particularly in these troubled economic times, often hear the words "tax relief" used in a totally different context. The phrase has become synonymous with businesses and individuals who claim they have some unique method to help you lower your tax liability in California. 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 Stockton, California
Scammers in Stockton, California often claim that they can employ some unique method enabling you pay the IRS less than you actually owe, or even erase your tax debt.
However, in most cases, these people have no capacity or intent to help 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 Stockton, California can look for.
One of the strongest indications that you're dealing with a scammer is if they assure that they can deliver a specific 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 reduced tax bill, they only apply to people in extreme instances, who are unable to pay their taxes through no fault of their own. Most Stockton, California residents will not be eligible.
Also, 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 Stockton 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 illegal charges to it.
How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Stockton, California Help?
If you are encountering trouble paying the taxes that you owe in Stockton, California, and are seeking tax relief, you should speak with a knowledgeable local tax attorney before you pay anyone else to help you.
A competent and reputable tax attorney in Stockton, California will give you objective legal advice on how to handle a tax law issue. A reputable 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.