Tax Relief Lawyers in Patchogue

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

When the term "tax relief" is used in the media, it's usually in the context of a politician, or someone running for elected office, assuring that they'll reduce tax rates. Essentially, "tax relief" is, in this context, another term for "tax cut."

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 usually claim that they will have experienced lawyers negotiate with the IRS or New York 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 Patchogue, New York

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

But you should beware: no honest tax relief business in Patchogue, New York will make such promises, because they know it's almost always impossible to deliver on them. Thankfully, there are several 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 absolute guarantee that they can lower your tax bill. While there are some legal ways to try and reduce your tax requirement, including negotiating with the IRS, there is no guarantee that they will prevail. 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 Patchogue, New York taxpayers aren't eligible to participate in them.

Also, 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 Patchogue 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 illegal charges to it.

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Patchogue, New York Help?

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

A good Patchogue, New York tax attorney can give you honest, unbiased legal advice that will be useful in handling any problem you have with your taxes. Of course, as you probably know, honest advice is, more often than not, the opposite of what one wants to hear, even if it is more useful than whatever puffery you'll hear from a scammer. Plus, in the extremely unlikely event that your tax attorney defrauds you, it will be much easier to seek legal action against a licensed attorney than against some scammer who likely doesn't use his or her real name.