Discussion:Settle IRS Debt: I wonder why Tax Almanac is accepting money from misleading advertisors?
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Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Settle IRS Debt: I wonder why Tax Almanac is accepting money from misleading advertisors?
| 1 July 2008 | |
| I clicked on the link to a banner ad for Tax, Inc. which was at the top of the discussion page on Tax Almanac. TA gets 'click through' revenue from these ads. The banner title was "Settle IRS Debt"
Then I watched the video. It is here if you want to see it Tax, Inc. In the video, it states "The IRS will give you ONE CHANCE to resolve your tax debt." We all know that this is not true, and very misleading. A person gets as many bites at the apple as they need to settle their tax debts. I will try to forward this clip to the Office of Professional Liability, as my personal feelings are that this type of misleading advertising is prohibited by Circular 230. I am ashamed that Tax Almanac and Intuit would want to be associated with these folks. I would hope that Intuit would pull these links as the negative impression of the advertisor will carry over to how we feel about Intuit. Any one else care to comment? I think there was just a huge fine against JK Harris, Inc. for making similar statements. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| I would classify the ad claim as puffery and as meaningful as "Best Cup of Coffee in Town." What doesn't make sense is why Tax Inc is having ads posted on a site for tax practitioners instead of where their clientel, the general taxpaying public, is.
If you would like some revenge, there is a pay per click charge for posting the ad so click through every time and run up their bill. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 1 July 2008 |
| The left margin of this page has ads and links including "Received an Audit Notice" and "Lien? Levy? Garnishment?" plus "Ask a Tax Question Now" with 13 Tax Experts & Accountants Online.
Money just doesn't talk, it screams. Time to watch Law & Order reruns where there will be at least one JK Harris ad an hour. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| I've done a little more research. Intuit contracts with Google to sell ad space. Google picks which ads to post depending on key words on the page or in the title. Tax, Inc. contracts with Google to place their ads on any website (allowing Google Ads) that Google feels will provide them with click-throughs.
So the ad is more likely to come up if the terms Tax Debt Settlement or Settle IRS Debt or similar come up. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| Continuing, the Google advertisers are probably hoping to get a consumer with tax problems, not a tax professional. The advetisers are the ones who would be upset that tax pros clicked through just to see what their advertising said, because we are not going to buy anything from them or refer clients to them. Intuit hopes we DO click through. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| You can't swing a dead mouse without hitting one of the ads for Offer mills that misrepresents the facts. It is better they advertise here, where they can't hurt anyone, than on a site that might actually get them business. It is just a bonus that we can cost them a little money in our spare time. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 1 July 2008 |
| I suspect your link arranges loans at far above prime to help the clients pay off IRS. | |
Southparkcpa (talk|edits) said: | 1 July 2008 |
| Kevin
In all due respect, and you deserve alot, if we worry about every nickel and dime agency, ad etc.... we will drive ourselves nuts. I have even LESS confidence that the IRS will do something. I don't think they care yet they want us to? I's rather play golf. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| Golfages it is. a place where I can really put my creative accounting skills to use. and where the tequila runs freely | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| So who is the American Society of IRS Problem Solvers? Doncha love that professional looking logo? | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| Joan, I was surprised he wasn't wearing his "World's Best Lover" T-shirt in the picture. Or at least the one that says "The Man" with the arrow pointing up, and "The Legend" with the arrow pointing down. If you are going to self-aggrandize, might as well aggrandize something worthy of aggrandizement. | |
Michaelstar (talk|edits) said: | 1 July 2008 |
| I look at the advertisements as nothing other than SPAM! Would have never even noticed them had you not brought it to my attention. Have a Safe & Happy 4th! | |
| July 1, 2008 | |
| Get a real (and properly configured) browser and the bothersome ads go away. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| What surprises me is how much recent national cable TV & radio advertising there has been and by quite a large number of companies. This work must be incredibly profitable. It would be interesting to know whether venture capitalists are funding any of those companies. -- Larry Hess, CPA | Albuquerque, NM | Talk to me | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| I am wondering why you see nothing of the JKH settlement on cable. These guys are ripping people off on a large scale and it needs to be publicised. | |
| 1 July 2008 | |
| Harris seems to have one of the highest profiles of any of those advertising on cable. -- Larry Hess, CPA | Albuquerque, NM | Talk to me | |
| 2 July 2008 | |
| I had a client contact me after the fact. She went to one of these places that advertises on the radio. They required her to pay them $600. per month for one year before they would even do any contact with the IRS for an OIC. The IRS called her and the company instructed her not to speak directly with the IRS.
I had her sign a POA and send me all the documents she had from both the IRS and this company. My POA will supercede any she may have signed for the company (she doesn't remember signing one with them). Once I have all the documents and contact the IRS on her behalf, I intend to recommend that she sue the company. Don't know exactly on what grounds yet but will deal with that when I have a clearer picture of what they did or didn't do. taxea | |
