Choosing a Tax Professional Internal Revenue Service

The IRS Fresh Start program gives individuals and businesses the option to pay back their debt in an installment plan without interest, penalties, liens, garnishments, or asset seizures. You must meet specific debt and tax filing requirements to qualify for the program. Struggling with tax debt can feel overwhelmingly stressful, especially when the amount you owe seems unfair or insurmountable. We understand you want to find the best tax relief firm for your needs, so you likely have a few more questions.

• The total cost for resolution depends largely on the complexity of your case, but you'll receive a quote before moving on to this stage.
• After a free consultation, the firm will only work with cases that need help.
• With so many tax relief scams across the industry, identifying trustworthy tax relief companies can be challenging.
• With a team of experienced financial experts, New Era Debt Solutions aims to assist clients in regaining control of their finances and achieving long-term financial freedom.
• This is something most competitors charge for, so it’s a great value with no commitment.
• The standout benefit of Anthem Tax Services is the 100% money-back guarantee.

By negotiating how much debt is owed, these debt settlement companies claim that clients could pay less overall and get out of debt faster. Enrolled agents, tax attorneys and CPAs assist with IRS and state tax debts across the U.S. Offers a free no-obligation consultation and a price protection policy. To qualify for the IRS Fresh Start program, you must be current with your tax filings for the present tax year, and you must be able to repay your tax debt within five years or less, among other requirements. J. David Tax can offer help with tax levies, wage garnishments and federal and state tax liens.

Credits & Deductions

Negative reviews complained that Fortress took too long to resolve tax issues or that Fortress’ services cost too much. These guarantees include your money back if your situation isn’t resolved, 100 percent compliance, and no added costs to appeal any Offer in Compromise rejections. Additionally, the company has received an A+ rating (the highest offered) https://kelleysbookkeeping.com/ from the BBB. This rating represents the BBB’s opinion on how likely a business is to interact with its customers. If you’re worried about having your questions answered or dealing with complaints, this rating is encouraging. Wage garnishment occurs when the IRS can legally hold your earnings by a court order to fulfill your tax dues or debts.

So we recommend these options only if you have a simple return and are comfortable researching tax information yourself, rather than getting assistance from the software. On the other hand, the term “tax preparer” is a catch-all category for both credentialed and noncredentialed professionals who prepare tax returns. The IRS mandates that anyone who receives compensation in exchange for preparing a tax return must have a PTIN, or a preparer tax identification number. The term “tax relief” can refer to a number of things within the world of taxes. Broadly speaking, any kind of measure, provision or incentive that helps taxpayers legally minimize or reduce their tax liabilities can be considered tax relief in terms of policy.

Free tax tools

An offer-in-compromise is a solution where you offer a compromise to settle your tax debt for a lower amount than what you owe. Tax relief companies may be able to help you reach an installment agreement with the IRS that will make paying off your tax debt more manageable. Tax preparation services can give you peace of mind about your taxes and ensure that you do not fall into tax debt again. Optima Tax Relief offers an extensive selection of tax resources on its website, allowing you to learn more about the tax resolution and tax preparation process.

The company makes its tax relief services as affordable as possible by offering plans starting at $99. You can also utilize financing options to afford its tax services better. Anthem Tax Services is licensed in all 50 states, allowing the company to help consumers nationwide receive the tax solutions they need to move forward following severe tax debt. We recommend this company to anyone looking for expert tax professionals and tailored relief services. Enterprise Consultants Group is accredited by the NATP and holds additional law-related credentials. However, it doesn’t offer a guarantee, and we were disappointed by the lack of resources on its website.

Alternatives to Debt Relief Programs

Choose a state below to see some real examples of resolutions that 20/20 has successfully negotiated for clients. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick Top Rated Tax Resolution Firm and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Do not store tax documents with services such as Dropbox or Google Drive unless you encrypt the files, and always encrypt your local drive.

• Aside from Community Tax’s programs, Liberty Tax provides tax services for avoiding debt in the future.
• If you succeed, the IRS will stop trying to collect your current tax debt, but it won't erase it.
• Because Liberty Tax primarily focuses on preparation services, it outsources its tax debt relief services to the trustworthy provider, Community Tax.
• When people think of tax debt relief, they mostly think about the IRS, which is a federal agency.

A separate team is responsible for placing paid links and advertisements, creating a firewall between our affiliate partners and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers. 20/20 will fully investigate your situation and negotiate the best available resolution allowed by law. We establish the true facts of your case, double check the accuracy of taxes, penalties and interest, and create your custom resolution strategy. A dedicated team of tax experts specially trained to negotiate with the IRS and state taxing authorities is assigned to your case. We’ve collected some of the best resolutions from our clients around the country and organized them by state and liability type.

IRS Free File: What It Is, How It Works

There’s no obligation to sign up for further tax relief services with ALG Tax Solutions after completing this service. In fact, the professional who reviews your case may even recommend steps to resolve the situation on your own. Optima Tax Relief works with every type of IRS and state tax relief option, from payment plans to “currently not collectible” filings. The company’s staff is composed of several types of tax professionals, including enrolled agents, tax attorneys and CPAs.

We dismissed it in 2021 because of several reports of issues with the program. Wirecutter readers and staffers, as well as commenters on the Better Business Bureau site, have noted frustrating problems, such as missing deductions on state returns or forms that fail with no explanation. Credit Karma also doesn’t support multi-state filing and a few common forms, including for underpayment of estimated tax, and it doesn’t offer live support.

We had to scroll to the bottom of the page, select “Add deduction,” and track down the appropriate form. For this reason, we recommend always manually reviewing the list of form choices before confirming you’re finished with each section of your return. This means you need to be vigilant as you click through each screen, in order to avoid falling for the unnecessary upsell.

This fee can be broken down into a payment plan for those who can’t afford to pay upfront. The company is accredited by both the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) and the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). Assurances that you qualify for one or more programs — without even taking a look at your case — or claims that they can settle your tax debt in a specific time frame should raise red flags right away. If the IRS grants you CNC status, your finances are reviewed every year until it determines that you’re able to pay your debt. Additionally, any future tax refunds you receive may be used to pay down your debt while in CNC status.

Tax relief companies typically offer assistance with several IRS relief programs, ensuring that customers receive the most comprehensive help possible. Once you hire Anthem, the company will review your case in more detail and develop a tax debt relief plan that provides the most comprehensive tax relief for your specific situation. The company's extensive industry experience and tax law knowledge allow it to discern tax relief options that clients might never discover on their own. As a general rule, if your tax debt is under $10,000, you might be better off attempting to negotiate with the IRS yourself. First, most tax relief companies have a minimum debt requirement — usually $10,000 or more. Second, if your debt is under that amount, you might do better paying the IRS in installments instead of increasing your debt load by paying for tax relief services.