Tax Relief Lawyers in New Orleans
The term "tax relief" can refer to various different things in New Orleans, Louisiana. But, it is typically used to refer to some action that reduces the tax liability of an individual, corporation, or a certain category 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.
Increasingly, however, the general public is being inundated with advertisements on the Internet, the radio, and in print, from companies offering "tax relief" to consumers who owe back taxes in amounts that will be difficult or impossible to pay back. These companies claim to have some unique technique that can get Louisiana residents out of paying their taxes, or at least negotiate their final tax bill down to a smaller amount. Some of these companies are legitimate, but many of them are total frauds.
Tax Relief Scams in New Orleans, Louisiana
Some con-artists in New Orleans, Louisiana say that they have some unique 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.
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 New Orleans, Louisiana can look for.
Probably the strongest indication that a tax relief organization is a scam is a guarantee that they can deliver a certain result. If anyone makes an explicit promise that they can eliminate your tax debt, they are lying to you, plain and simple. This is because it is impossible to honestly make such an affirmation. The fact is, most people are not eligible for any IRS programs that let some taxpayers reduce their tax liability. This goes for most people in New Orleans, Louisiana, as well.
And if a tax relief organization demands up-front payment, this should raise a big red flag for you. Many scammers in New Orleans, whether they're vowing tax relief, or anything else, will take your money, and then disappear, without even pretending to try to help you. The worst of the worst will also take the money you agreed to pay them, and then make unlawful charges to your credit card, or withdrawals from your bank account.
How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana 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 New Orleans, Louisiana tax lawyer.
A good New Orleans, Louisiana 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 likely doesn't use his or her real name.