Best Tax Relief Services Of April 2024

We looked at data on 11 high-profile tax relief companies—Anthem Tax Services, Community Tax, Fortress Tax Relief, Instant Tax Solutions, Larson Tax Relief, Optima Tax Relief, Precision Tax Relief, StopIRSDebt.com, Tax Defense Network, Tax Hardship Center and Tax Relief USA—and narrowed our list to our top three picks. To determine which companies offered the best tax relief services, our research team compared features and prices in the following categories:

• Product and process details. For each company, we reviewed the fees for settling past debts, the estimated processing time and the money-back guarantee.
• Transparency. We determined whether the company posted its fees on their website.
• Customer service satisfaction. We analyzed each company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau and TrustPilot.
• Customer service. Researchers assessed the availability of live chat, email and phone support for each company.
• History. We noted the length of time each company has been in business, along with its associations with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, National Association of Tax Preparers and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Our research team contacted each tax relief company by phone. Some companies did not provide answers to our questions, thereby decreasing the number of contenders. We analyzed and scored the remaining companies overall and calculated our top picks.

If you owe money to the IRS, state or local government, you may decide to seek out a tax relief company to help lower your taxes. Typically, these companies offer assistance with establishing installment agreements, penalty relief, amending prior tax returns and other services. Tax relief services may include efforts to stop tax collection, liens or levies, such as wage garnishments.

And while tax relief companies advertise helping you get rid of back taxes, it may come with a hefty price. Some tax relief services charge hundreds or thousands of dollars for their services. Most tax relief companies are legitimate services, but some aren’t. Therefore, before you hire a tax relief company, take time to do your research on the company’s bona fides.

Tax relief companies work similarly to other service providers. After you contact a tax relief firm, a consultation will likely occur. Usually, the consultation is free, though some companies charge a few hundred dollars. During the consultation, the tax relief firm may ask you questions about your tax issues so it can seek solutions to help eliminate your tax debt.

A tax relief company may provide a summary report describing the next steps after your initial consultation. This report may include the cost of additional services to resolve your tax issues. You can decide whether you agree with the tax firm. In some cases, you may need to pay a monthly fee while receiving the company’s services.

The cost of tax relief services depends on your tax situation. Our research determined that the cost of services can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Before engaging a tax relief company, it is essential to do your due diligence so that you fully understand how much you’re likely to pay out of pocket.

Also, you’ll want to ensure the expected fees don’t outweigh the benefits of the service. If the price is too high, working directly with the federal or state tax agency to resolve your tax issues may be a better idea.

A tax relief company can assist you with many different issues. Here are some of the problems a tax relief company can help with:

• Offer in compromise
• Installment agreements
• Penalty abatement
• Amend prior year tax returns
• Assistance with filing tax returns
• Placing your tax account in non-collectible status
• Removal of liens, garnishments, or levies