Tax Problem Resolution Industry Urges State AGs to Protect Consumers from Deceptive Practices

The Tax Problem Resolution Services Coalition proposes state and federal legislation to outlaw deceptive tax relief practices, create more and better disclosures, cause greater transparency of services and provide redress for aggrieved taxpayers.

Washington, DC, May 06, 2011 -- In its effort to protect consumers and eliminate deceptive business practices, the Tax Problem Resolution Services Coalition (TPRSC) has crafted proposed legislation titled the "Delinquent Tax Debt Representation and Service Act".

The TPRSC is comprised of leading providers of tax resolution services, including enrolled agents, tax lawyers, CPAs and tax resolution firms. As part of its mandate, the TPRSC has identified many of the problems with the unscrupulous elements of the tax resolution industry and crafted the Act to outlaw these specific practices, reign in questionable practices, create more and better disclosures, cause greater transparency of services and provide redress for aggrieved taxpayers.

“We are asking state AGs to publicly support and seek the introduction of the legislation to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive advertising claims by unscrupulous delinquent tax debt representation providers,” said Lawrence M. Lawler, a TPRSC member and the national director of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, a national not-for-profit organization of attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents specializing in representing taxpayers before the IRS. “Additionally, the TPRSC would welcome the opportunity to be an active part in the crafting and enactment of any legislation to help in the effort to rid the delinquent tax debt representation industry of unprincipled and deceitful companies and individuals.”

The Act declares more than 35 separate practices as unfair and deceptive and provides civil liability for negligent or willful noncompliance. Further, the "Delinquent Tax Debt Representation and Service Act" would also:

Prohibit providers from charging unconscionable fees and not charging or receiving payment until the provider and the client have entered into a written agreement;

Require providers to conduct an analysis of the information available about a taxpayers tax liability before entering into an agreement with a client that the provider's services are suitable for the client; and If a provider offers services for Offers in Compromise, Penalty Abatement, or IRS Installment Arrangements, it must disclose the fact that the IRS has stringent requirements and that not all clients will qualify

To read the full "Delinquent Tax Debt Representation and Service Act", visit:
http://www.taxproblemresolutionservicescoalition.com/delinquent-tax-debt-representation-and-service-act.html

The Tax Problem Resolution Services Coalition (TPRSC) represents the efforts of a broad spectrum of the industry located throughout the United States. Its mission is to promote and ensure the protection of taxpayers from unfair and deceptive advertising claims by unscrupulous delinquent tax debt representation providers. The coalition welcomes additional members that support this mission. The coalition’s work will be reported through its new web page at www.taxproblemresolutionservicescoalition.com and through its newsletter. To sign up for the Tax Problem Resolution Services Coalition’s newsletter, send an email to: tprsc@nationalpolicygroup.com with the words “Subscribe to Tax Newsletter” in the subject line.

The Tax Problem Resolution Services Coalition (TPRSC) represents the efforts of a broad spectrum of the industry located throughout the United States

Contact:
Mark Guimond
National Policy Group
1220 L Street, N.W.
Suite 100-505
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-271-3569
mguimond@nationalpolicygroup.com
http://www.NationalPolicyGroup.com

This release was published on openPR.