Tax Relief Lawyers in Catskill

"Tax relief" is a term used to describe a few different concepts in Catskill, New York. It sometimes refers to actions that lower the tax rate that some taxpayers are obliged 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 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.

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 challenging or impossible to pay back. These companies claim to have some exceptional technique that can get New York 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 Catskill, New York

It is pretty common for scammers in Catskill, New York to claim that, for a relatively small fee, they will help you get out of paying all of your taxes.

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

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 skilled and ethical tax relief professional will know this, and tell you as much. The unfortunate fact is that, while the IRS does have programs authorizing 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 Catskill, New York residents will not be suitable.

Another red flag to look for is a demand of a large up-front payment. Many tax relief scammers in Catskill will not even pretend to try and advise you. Alternatively, 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 Catskill, New York Help?

If you owe a massive amount in back taxes, and are unable to pay them, it may well be helpful to seek the advice of a Catskill, New York tax attorney.

Your tax lawyer in Catskill, 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. Moreover, in the unlikely event that a licensed tax attorney defrauds you (or attempts to defraud you), you will have substantial legal recourse against that attorney through your state bar association.