The Progressive Tax Group Challenge

America is in debt to the tune of $14 trillion. It should come as no coincidence that the number of tax audits enforced by the IRS has increased steadily since 2007 - the very same year the “Great Recession” took hold of the US economy. “Enfo


America is in debt to the tune of $14 trillion. It should come as no coincidence that the number of tax audits enforced by the IRS has increased steadily since 2007 - the very same year the “Great Recession” took hold of the US economy. “Enforcement revenue reached $59.2 billion, up from $48.7 billion in 2006 and nearly $34.1 billion in 2002” . Noticeably, the number of ads heralding the perils of insurmountable back tax debt has increased accordingly. Scads of tax consultancy companies have plunged large sums of marketing dollars into selling a quick-fix to tax debtors, who find themselves working against a ticking-clock.
Posed as a public servants, these tax resolution experts so-called staked their claim on being able to settle thousands even millions in back tax debt for just “pennies on the dollar.” By simply dialing a 1-800 number, the daunting specter of the big, bad IRS monster would be whisked back into the dark recesses of your closet. These ads promoted fairy tale endings, often citing offers in compromise as the saving grace, but not once did companies the likes of Roni Lynn Deutch, JK Harris, and American Tax Relief ever relay the simple fact that not all tax debtors qualify for such drastic tax amnesties. Rather than adopt these same hard sales tactics and false advertising practices designed to lure millions of unsuspecting tax debtors into a false sense of security, Progressive Tax Group has shifted its focus towards a more service oriented business model.
Economics in its basest form revolves around supply and demand. Taking into consideration the mass number of Americans, who looked to these companies for help, there is undoubtedly a demand for this service. Truth be told, the IRS, itself, needs these services; however, with little regulation in place, these tax resolution services basically had free reign to conduct business any way they saw fit. Nearly ten years and a half billion dollars later, it has come to the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that perhaps the tax resolution industry had not been making good on their promises to settle back tax debt.
August 26th, 2010 - aside from being sued by then California State Attorney General, Jerry Brown, for $34 million, “The Tax Lady” Roni Lynn Deutch was forced to halt all marketing activity from further circulation of false advertisement. During a two year period spanning from 2007 to 2009, JK Harris would be brought up on similar charges. Of the 43 states JK Harris had set up its 325 offices, 18 State Attorney Generals had accused JK Harris of “materially misrepresenting their ability to help [customers] resolve their unpaid tax obligation.” It was not until September 24th, 2010 when the FTC would finally step in and take a proactive stand for the protection of consumer rights. The FTC would forcibly shut down a tax relief company for the first time in US history.
“Despite collecting $60 million to $100 million in upfront fees from often-desperate clients in recent years, American Tax Relief (ATR) rarely, if ever, delivered on its promises.” ATR’s failure to negotiate settlements with the IRS resulted in penalties and further interest charges against the customers and so at the behest of the FTC, a federal district court judge froze the assets of Beverly Hills-based ATR. Yet another high profile name with a fairy tale image had been exposed for what it truly was - a fraudulent practice.
What had the IRS to say of all this? Simply, that the American taxpayer should research these companies with whom they are entrusting their tax matters. Understand that research does not entail mindlessly reading the bullet points of an advertisement. It involves extensive interviewing of company representatives, getting a clear understanding of expectations, and becoming aware of taxpayer rights, which may or may not qualify an indebted taxpayer for relief programs.
So who does the general public go to for tax relief help now that the major brand names in tax resolution have been exposed as frauds? Up steps the president of the San Francisco-based Progressive Tax Group (PTG), Tony Gagliardo, whose sole mission is to mold PTG into the template from which all tax services should conduct themselves. “I am willing to take on those cases left behind by JK Harris and [ATR] and do what was supposed to be done.” Considering the collateral damage levied upon the credibility of the tax consultancy industry by ATR and JK Harris, there is much room for improvement upon which PTG can build.
Having started out as an entry-level file clerk at an accounting firm before eventually moving onto the sales side of tax consulting, Tony Gagliardo developed a working knowledge of the industry as a whole. He, especially, took notice of how the industry leaders dominated the competition by using scare tactics and hard sales pitches to sell unsuspecting customers. With PTG still in its fledgling stages (2007), Tony would reverse engineer the foibles of the JK Harris fiasco and assemble a team of experienced tax attorneys to correct certain disclaimers, disclosures and wording in the ad campaigns that could be construed as misleading. “We are not [about] giving out false hope or telling people we can settle back tax debt for pennies on the dollar, but rather, here’s a list of options you may qualify for if you call us to check and see. There are no ways to make guarantees.”
“Here at Progressive Tax Group, we strive to help our clients achieve financial freedom by serving as their tax and financial aid partner.” With that mission statement in tact, PTG requires all of its associates to register annually with CTEC, a non-profit watchdog corporation established by the California State Legislature to promote competent tax preparation. PTG has staffed itself with certified professionals, who are not only capable of settling back tax debt in compliance with tax law, but also certified public accountants well versed in ensuring their clients maintain good standing with the IRS - an ability few other tax consultancy companies can claim.
The quick fix is to the American tax debtor what the quick dollar was to these fraudulent tax consultant companies. As the old adage would have it, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Although the IRS does offer certain amnesties and compromises to qualified applicants, it would behoove you both as a consumer and as an adult to do some research into the actual tax laws, itself, or at least the people with whom you are entrusting your tax matters. There are few short-cuts on the road to recovery. With proper guidance, what took years to accumulate in debt, could be methodically resolved without any further drama so long as you do it by the book.

Company Contact Information
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Rebekah Mason
316 Fairview St
91505
(818)445-9745

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