Tax Relief Lawyers in Charleston

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

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 distinct method to help you lower your tax liability in Illinois. 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 Charleston, Illinois

Scammers in Charleston, Illinois will often claim, for a fee of course, that they can get you out of your obligation to pay your taxes.

But you should beware: no honest tax relief business in Charleston, Illinois 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 Charleston, Illinois 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 Charleston 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 Charleston, Illinois 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 Charleston, Illinois tax lawyer.

A good Charleston, Illinois tax attorney can give you honest, unbiased legal advice that will be useful in handling any problem you have with your taxes. Of course, as you probably know, honest advice is, more often than not, the opposite of what one wants to hear, even if it is more useful than whatever puffery you'll hear from a scammer. Plus, in the extremely unlikely event that your tax attorney defrauds you, it will be much easier to seek legal action against a licensed attorney than against some scammer who probably doesn't use his or her real name.