Tax Relief Lawyers in Oxford

The term "tax relief" can refer to many different things in Oxford, Massachusetts. But, it is usually used to refer to some action that reduces the tax liability of an individual, corporation, or a certain category of individuals.

When you hear the term "tax relief" used by an elected official, or someone running for office, they're almost always talking about tax cuts, which would likely apply to the speaker's target audience. A tax cut is simply a reduction in the percentage of one's income (or whatever else is being taxed) that they have to pay in taxes.

However, when most people think of "tax relief," they are thinking of an individual, law firm, or corporation that claims to offer a way to get out of paying some or all of one's back taxes. They normally claim that they will have skilled lawyers negotiate with the IRS or Massachusetts tax authorities, to reduce your tax liability. While some of these businesses are legitimate, there are also many scams in this area.

Tax Relief Scams in Oxford, Massachusetts

Many scammers in Oxford, Massachusetts claim that they can completely absolve you of your obligation to pay your taxes - for a fee, of course.

But you should beware: no honest tax relief business in Oxford, Massachusetts will make such promises, because they know it's almost always impossible to deliver on them. Luckily, there are some 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 unequivocal guarantee that they can lower your tax bill. While there are some legal ways to try and reduce your tax obligation, including negotiating with the IRS, there is no guarantee that they will succeed. 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 Oxford, Massachusetts taxpayers aren't qualified to participate in them.

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

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Oxford, Massachusetts 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 an Oxford, Massachusetts tax lawyer.

A qualified and reputable tax attorney in Oxford, Massachusetts will give you objective legal advice on how to handle a tax law issue. A brilliant 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.