Tax Relief Lawyers in Iowa City

"Tax relief" in Iowa City, Iowa 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 the term "tax relief" is used in the media, it's usually in the context of a politician, or someone running for elected office, assuring that they'll reduce tax rates. Essentially, "tax relief" is, in this context, another term for "tax cut."

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 experienced negotiators on their staff who can negotiate with the tax collectors in Iowa 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 Iowa City, Iowa

Some con-artists in Iowa City, Iowa say that they have some distinct technique that allows you to reduce the amount of taxes you're legally required to pay, or that they can erase any tax debt that you have incurred.

But you should beware: no honest tax relief business in Iowa City, Iowa will make such promises, because they know it's almost always impossible to deliver on them. Thankfully, there are several 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 absolute 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 assist people who are truly unable to pay for their taxes, they are only available to very small subset of the population, and most Iowa City, Iowa taxpayers aren't eligible to participate in them.

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

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Iowa City, Iowa Help?

If you owe a huge amount in back taxes, and are unable to pay them, it may well be helpful to seek the advice of an Iowa City, Iowa tax attorney.

If you hire a reputable Iowa City, Iowa tax lawyer, your attorney will be able to provide you with honest advice about your legal situations vis-à-vis your taxes. Fair warning: honest legal advice occasionally doesn't involve telling you what you want to hear. However, the advice of an attorney will be far more useful than anything most "tax relief" companies tell you. Plus, in the very rare event that your attorney tries to defraud you, you have much more legal recourse against them than you would have against some fly-by-night "tax relief" company.