Tax Relief Lawyers in Cape Elizabeth

The term "tax relief" can refer to various different things in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. 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 exclusively 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.

But, many members of the general public, particularly in recent years, associate "tax relief" with businesses or individuals who claim they can lower your tax liability - normally advertising on the Internet or the radio. These advertisements commonly claim that they have brilliant lawyers and negotiators who can help you get out of your duty to pay taxes. While many of these organizations are valid, and are actually interested in helping their clients, a considerable percentage of "tax relief" organizations in Maine are scams.

Tax Relief Scams in Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Scammers in Cape Elizabeth, Maine often claim that they can employ some exceptional method enabling you pay the IRS less than you really owe, or even erase your tax debt.

In most cases, however, these people have absolutely no legal means to really help their "clients" ("victims" is the more accurate term), and will simply take your money and disappear. Luckily, these scams in Cape Elizabeth, Maine normally have a few elements that are dead giveaways, which you should always be on the look out for if you're contemplating hiring someone offering "tax relief."

One of the biggest warning signs that one should look for is an explicit promise that someone can eliminate your tax debt. This is simply not a promise that anyone can honestly make. While the IRS does have programs to help people who are honestly unable to pay their back taxes, through no fault of their own, they only apply in the most extreme cases, so the vast majority of taxpayers in Cape Elizabeth, Maine don't qualify for them.

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

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Cape Elizabeth, Maine 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 Cape Elizabeth, Maine tax lawyer.

Your tax lawyer in Cape Elizabeth, Maine will be able to give you real, useful advice about your tax situation. Just be ready: your tax attorney will give you honest advice, whether or not that's what you want to hear. Additionally, in the unlikely event that a licensed tax attorney defrauds you (or attempts to defraud you), you will have considerable legal recourse against that attorney through your state bar association.