Tax Relief Companies

[AndyTK]

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Hey everyone.

Sorry to butt into the conversation, I am a producer over at Fox 5 News in Atlanta. I'm working on a story right now concerning some of the Tax Relief companies you see advertise on TV claiming they can save you pennies on the dollar and you only have ONE chance to settle your IRS debt.

Specifically, I am looking into some of these LA-based companies such as:

American Tax Relief
Power Tax Relief
Nationwide Tax Relief
411 Tax Relief
Advantage Tax Relief and so on

All these companies and a few more are all located within 15,000 feet of each other! I'm not sure if there is a reason why that is. The BBB gives all these companies F's and they seem to operate off a "Churn-and-Burn" business model where they push for an OIC and don't actually follow through.

I'm not sure if this is the best place to post, but this seems like a prety knowledgeable group of people.

I guess some of the questions I'm looking to see is do these Tax Relief companies have to be licensed. I know there is a difference between the relief agencies and a preparer, but I'm wondering if any of them fall under Circ 230 or any California laws (Maybe CTEC?). I'm just wondering why the mecca seems to be in the greater LA area. I know the whole debt relief and loan modification scams started there as well, so I'm wondering if maybe that had something to do with it.

We have quite a few people here in Georgia that have been burned by these companies, and the BBB says that most of the complaints come from out of state since you can't really sue them in Georgia Civil court because they don't have a physical presence there and it's not worth flying to California for a 3,000 suit.

Any lawsuits that have come so far are only concerning advertising from the companies, not regulation on them.

Anyway, if anyone could help shed some light on the situation, I would appreciate whatever help I can get. Swimming through Tax Code is damn near impossible for me as I see numbers and just shut off.

If you want, send me an email at andythomaskelly@gmail.com or my direct line at Fox is 404-724-4489

Thanks for any help,

Andy

(Also, if I've completely mucked up and posted in the wrong section, tell me here, and I'll delete it and get out of your hair. I don't want to step on anyone's toes)

[taxforum]

Not at all Andy,

You are raising a very interesting topic. Our nation has suffered so much from unregulated, ripping-consumer-off companies using misleading advertising campaigns and false statements -- credit card companies, various online scams, ponzi schemes and list goes on and on.

I hope you can get some good material for your story and make a lot of noise so people in legislature will hear and do something about it to protect American consumers.

I make this thread whats called "sticky" meaning it will stay as the top thread of the forum for long period of time.

Good luck!

[AndyTK]

I appreciate the sticky.

I'm hoping to raise some good points during the story. It is something that never really gets a lot of coverage and it is flirting with the lines of a scam.

If anyone has any information, feel free to contact me by email or phone.

My direct line at Fox is 404-724-4489
or you can email me at andythomaskelly@gmail.com

If you want to check out any of our stories from the I-Team, the website is myfoxatlanta.com

That is also where this story will appear after we complete it (I'll make sure to post that here)

Thanks for any help

-Andy

[jdogric12]

Please keep us posted, Andy. Thanks! Cheers, J

[mwanted]

Well might be. Keep this interesting topic up. You can try to create your news story around Online Payroll Services Company. http://www.olpms.com/