Tax Relief Lawyers in Harrisonburg

The term "tax relief" can mean a few different things. Occasionally, it's used to refer to action that lowers the amount of taxes that people or businesses are obliged to pay in Harrisonburg, Virginia, or elsewhere.

When a politician or government official uses the term "tax relief," they are typically referring to tax cuts, which are simply a reduction in the tax rate for everybody, or certain people.

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 requirement to pay the taxes. Most of the time, they'll say that they have brilliant negotiators on their staff who can negotiate with the tax collectors in Virginia or the IRS, to lower your tax bill. Some of these businesses are forthright, and have the best interests of their customers in mind. However, many of them are scams.

Tax Relief Scams in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Some con-artists in Harrisonburg, Virginia say that they have some unique technique that permits you to reduce the amount of taxes you're legally obliged to pay, or that they can erase any tax debt that you have incurred.

But you should beware: no honest tax relief business in Harrisonburg, Virginia will make such promises, because they know it's almost always impossible to deliver on them. Fortunately, 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 explicit 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 advise people who are really unable to pay for their taxes, they are only available to very small subset of the population, and most Harrisonburg, Virginia taxpayers aren't suitable to participate in them.

Another red flag to look for is a demand of a large up-front payment. Many tax relief scammers in Harrisonburg will not even pretend to try and advise you. Alternatively, they simply take the money and disappear, sometimes after making further, and unlawful, charges to your credit card or withdrawals from your bank account.

How Can a Tax Relief Attorney in Harrisonburg, Virginia 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 Harrisonburg, Virginia tax lawyer.

Your tax lawyer in Harrisonburg, Virginia 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.