Tax Relief Lawyers in Johnstown

"Tax relief" is a term used to describe a few different concepts in Johnstown, New York. It occasionally 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 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.

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 Johnstown, New York

Many scammers in Johnstown, New York claim that they can completely discharge you of your requirement to pay your taxes - for a fee, of course.

But buyer beware: these scammers in Johnstown, New York, and elsewhere, cannot possibly deliver on their promises, and they know it. Thankfully, most tax relief scams have a few common factors that can give them away to vigilant consumers.

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 advise people who are really 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 Johnstown, New York don't qualify for them.

Additionally, any demand for upfront payment, before any actual services are rendered, is another warning sign that you may be dealing with a fraudster. This is because many tax scammers in Johnstown will simply take whatever money you give them, and drop off the face of the Earth (figuratively, unfortunately), without doing anything to help you, or even pretending to. Adding insult to injury, if you pay them with a credit card, they may well make additional unlawful charges to it.

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Johnstown, 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 Johnstown, New York tax attorney.

Your tax lawyer in Johnstown, New York 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. 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.