Tax Relief Lawyers in Albany
"Tax relief" is a term used to describe a few different concepts in Albany, New York. It sometimes refers to actions that lower the tax rate that some taxpayers are obligated to pay.
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 hypothetically 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, 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 obligation to pay the taxes. Most of the time, they'll say that they have skilled negotiators on their staff who can negotiate with the tax collectors in New York 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 Albany, New York
Scammers in Albany, New York often claim that they can employ some special method enabling you pay the IRS less than you actually owe, or even erase your tax debt.
However, in many cases, these people have no ability 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 Albany, New York can look for.
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 assist people who are truly unable to pay for their taxes, they are only available to very small subset of the population, and most Albany, New York taxpayers aren't eligible to participate in them.
Furthermore, you need to know that anyone demanding payment before they perform any services in Albany probably doesn't have your interests in mind. If you pay a scammer up front, they'll probably just run off with your money, and you'll never hear from them again.
How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Albany, New York Help?
If you are in need of tax relief, or are having trouble paying taxes you owe, it can't hurt to speak with an Albany, New York tax attorney.
Your tax lawyer in Albany, New York will be able to give you real, useful advice about your tax situation. Just be prepared: your tax attorney will give you honest advice, whether or not that's what you want to hear. Furthermore, in the unlikely event that a licensed tax attorney defrauds you (or attempts to defraud you), you will have significant legal recourse against that attorney through your state bar association.