How not to get Ripped off when solving your IRS PROBLEMS
Unfortunately, there are a lot of tax resolution firms and Tax Attorneys out there
that will simply take your money and run. There are firms who call themselves the
nation's largest tax representation firm but have been sued by many states and
880 complaints with the Better Business Bureau . There are firms that
call themselves the largest tax resolution law firm but have 224 complaints
with the Better Business Bureau .
So the size and claims of the firm are no guarantee that you will be represented
well by that company. The easiest way to determine if the firm you are choosing
is a good one is to simply look them up in search engines such as Google or through
the Better Business Bureau. The following links will help you research the
reputation of any company.
1) Better Business Bureau - www.bbb.org/us/Find-Business-Reviews
2) Rip Off Report - www.ripoffreport.com
3) Complaints.com - www.complaintsboard.com
These are three good sources to use when researching any company. When you
search a company and find no complaints, you are on your way to choosing the right
firm for you.
Tax Resolution Firms Better Business Bureau Rating
JG TAX GROUP takes great pride in our A RATING
with the Better Business Bureau. Our A RATING
proves that we take you situation as seriously as you do! You should not take
advice from any firm unless they can prove that they will treat you in an honest
and ethical manner. The way to evaluate any Tax Resolution Firm
is to check their rating with the Better Business Bureau.
We have listed just a sample of Resolution Firms and their Better Business Bureau
Rating.
|
Company Name
|
Better Business Bureau Rating
(as of April 2, 2009)
|
|
JG TAX GROUP
|
A
|
|
|
411 TAX RELIEF
|
D
|
|
|
AMERICAN TAX RELIEF
|
F
|
|
|
CLEAR CREEK CONSULTING
|
C
|
|
|
FREEDOM DEBT RELIEF
|
F
|
(San Mateo, CA)
|
|
FREEDOM TAX RELIEF
|
C+
|
(San Mateo, CA)
|
|
JK HARRIS
|
F
|
(N.Charleston, SC)
|
|
NATIONAL TAX SOLUTIONS
|
F
|
|
|
INNOVATIVE TAX RELIEF
|
F
|
|
|
RONI DEUTCH
|
B-
|
(Tolleson, AZ)
|
|
TAX CARE PROFESSIONALS
|
F
|
|
|
TAXMASTERS
|
F
|
(Houston, TX)
|
|
TAX RESOLUTION SERVICES
|
B+
|
(Encino, CA)
|
|
TAX INCORPORATED
|
F
|
|
|
TITAN TAX RELIEF
|
C
|
(Carlsbad, CA)
|
|
URGENT TAX CAREF
|
C
|
|
What options are available to me to solve my tax problems?
Among several services we offer are:
Installment Agreement - A monthly payment
plan set up to pay back the taxpayer's tax liability. The IRS has guidelines as
to what amount they will accept and the time frame they will accept it in. A financial
profile is required from the taxpayer before the tax resolution firm can negotiate
an installment agreement.
Offer in Compromise / Tax Relief -
An offer to the IRS to lower the total tax liability owed by the taxpayer due to
financial constraints. This is a very popular solution advertised by most firms,
but not always effective. More below.
Currently Not Collectible
- When the taxpayer cannot afford to pay the IRS monies due to a lack of assets
and low income or no income (recently laid off due to current economy)
then the IRS will deem the taxpayer Currently Not Collectible and agree that their
tax liability will be waive for the time being.
Penalty Abatement - The IRS assesses penalties
and interest on tax liabilities so over time taxes due years ago can increase from
hundreds to thousands of dollars. The IRS will sometimes lower or eliminate these
fees with a well worded request.
Bank Levies/Wage Garnishment Release -
The IRS will collect their monies due by any means necessary. They may take all
your assets with a levy or garnish up to 70% or your wages. A tax resolution firm
can negotiate with the IRS to have these released in as little as 4 business days.
Audit Representation - If your are
currently being audited and you don't know why then it is very important to
be represented by tax professionals who can get to the bottom of the problems
and fix them. We can even have your past audit reopened if you feel you did not
get a fair shake.
I have unfiled taxes from previous years but no longer have my records from those
years. Can you help me?
JG Tax Group can prepare your past unfiled tax returns by requesting
your IRS wage transcripts and completing a tax questionnaire.
Is there anything I need to do before I can solve my tax problems?
Before the IRS will accept any negotiations to solve your tax
liability you will need to be in compliance with any unfiled tax returns. Any
unfiled taxes up to ten years ago may be required to be prepared and filed with
the IRS.
The tax resolution firm I contacted has told me that they will solve
my problems with an Offer in Compromise. Is this true?
Caution! Do not be misled: Many people do not qualify. The Offer
in Compromise (OIC) process is long and difficult, and the Internal Revenue Service
rejects the great majority of the offers it receives.
Annually, the IRS accepts approximately 14% of the Offers in Compromise
it receives. That's down from over 17% in 1997 through 2001. Why?
Former IRS Commissioner Mark Everson, who served from 2002 through 2007, disliked
OIC acceptances and did much to discourage them. By doing so, he also discouraged
OIC submissions by ethical tax professionals, who choose not to accept a fee for
submitting an OIC which the IRS very probably will reject. As a result, there
has been a big drop in the number of OICs received annually by the IRS.
Only taxpayers with a certain financial profile qualify for
the program. Simply put, if there are enough assets and income
available to the taxpayer, he or she does not qualify for an OIC. But unscrupulous
tax resolution firms will not disclose this information to the taxpayer.
They will take the taxpayer's money, fill out an application and send it in to the
IRS, regardless of whether the taxpayer has a legitimate chance of success.
The tax firm will consider the "job" completed with the submission
of the OIC and hold no further obligation to the customer. A tax
resolution firm with your best interest in mind will let you know upfront that there
are several options available to you, including the OIC, but also where you fit
in, especially after a comprehensive financial profile. With over 120 years of combined
insider IRS experience, JG Tax Group will let you know upfront whether you do or
do not qualify for an OIC and what your other options may be.
The IRS is sending me letters and calling me. What should I do?
The IRS is the world's largest collection agency. They will ask
the taxpayer for information on their employment, bank accounts, properties owned,
automobiles and any other assets they may have for the purpose of knowing what they
can levy or garnish. They will note down all conversations with the taxpayers
for future use by other agents. The IRS can seize just about any assets needed
to pay unpaid taxes. One of the main reasons to hire a tax resolution firm is for
the experience they bring in dealing with the IRS. When you hire a tax resolution
firm they will take care of all communications with the IRS so you do not have to
deal with the harassing phone calls and upsetting letters. The firm will also
compile a comprehensive financial profile for the taxpayer using both information
from the taxpayer as well as all records that the IRS has on the taxpayer.
The professionals at JG Tax Group know how the IRS thinks and what they are looking
for and therefore any negotiations with the IRS will be done from a place of power
and not fear.
I have a tax liability from years past when I was single but am now married. Does
my new spouse share in my tax liability?
If you have been assessed taxes due while you were single
or married to another person, your new spouse does not share in your tax liability.
But the IRS may still request your new spouse's financial information because
they need to know what your household can afford to pay the IRS. But the truth is
that only the taxpayer who filed those tax years is liable for them. A tax resolution
firm will make sure that your spouse is not involved in your tax solution and that
the IRS will only deal with what you can afford to pay.
My financial institution received a bank levy. What can I do?
When a levy is issued, the government actually takes money out
of your bank account or collects money owed to you or your business. They will
keep sending a notice to your financial institution to wipe out your account periodically.
JG Tax Group will remove the bank levy within 4 business days.
I have a wage garnishment in effect. Can you help me?
JG Tax Group can release wage garnishments within 4 business days
or stop them temporarily and give you the time you need to get in compliance with
the IRS.
Read more about one of recent success stories.
Can the IRS take my house?
Property seizures are all but nonexistent due to the IRS
Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, but the IRS will still threaten to take your
home, cars and retirement accounts in order to scare you into complying with their
demands. Representation from JG Tax Group protects you from these threatening tactics.
Can I go to jail for owing back taxes?
Debtor's prisons were eliminated long ago. Nowadays, people
usually only go to jail for tax evasion, or the willful exercise of not paying taxes
on money earned.
