Best IRS Tax Relief Companies of 2022
- Credit score not affected for prequalification
- We value privacy
Best Overall
- #1 Most Popular Choice Among TRA Visitors
- 4.7 of 5 from customers on Trustpilot
- 4.9 of 5 with the BBB giving them an overall A+ BBB Rating
- 50 states covered
- Customers with $10,000+ can get relief in back taxes
- Founder certified as "U.S. Dept. of Treasury Enrolled Agent"
- 100% Money Back Guarantee for 14-Days
- Free consultation, see if you qualify for tax relief
TRA offers solutions for personal tax debt, business tax debt, bank levies, wage garnishment, IRS penalties, and more. According to the company, a call today can get you a tax debt savings estimate, see if you’re qualified for the IRS Fresh Start Program, and get you a timeline for how long it’ll take to resolve your tax debt.
Pros
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- Free consultation
Cons
- No clear pricing model
- Saving money is not guaranteed
- Free phone consultation with licensed tax practitioners
- Tax Attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents on staff
- BBB accredited business
- Fresh Start Initiative assistance
- 100% Money Back Guarantee
- Service-fee financing options available
(855) 936-0319
Pros
- 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t put into a better position than where you started
- Receive a free consultation before taking on any costs
- Work with tax professionals who can handle complex steps
- Available nationwide
Cons
- No clear pricing model
- Saving money is not guaranteed
- 14-Day Money Back Guarantee
- BBB accredited business
- Over 800 million tax liabilities resolved
- Free consultation with licensed tax preparers
(800) 767-0244
Hero Tax was founded in 2010 and has since helped over 60,000 clients with their tax issues—resolving over $600 million in tax debt. Its staff of attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents can help clients in all 50 states.
To get started, you’ll have a call with one of the company’s experienced professionals to determine what the best plan of action is. If you move forward, the company will conduct an investigation to get a complete picture of your account. Finally, after determining what resolution to pursue, the Hero Tax team will help you prepare a submission to the IRS.
Pros
- Free consultation
- Offers additional services past tax relief
- Available nationwide
Cons
- No clear pricing model
- Saving money is not guaranteed
- No money-back guarantee
- Money Back Guarantee
- A+ BBB Accredited Business
- 2017 BBB Torch Award for Ethics
- Enrolled agents and tax lawyers on staff
- One of the most popular tax relief firms
Pros
- 15-day money-back satisfaction guarantee
- Free consultation
- An experienced team with years of combined financial services backgrounds
Cons
- No clear pricing model
- Saving money is not guaranteed
- Good option for tax debt above $10,000
- See if you qualify for an IRS hardship program
- Pre-qualify for a 100% free expert consultation
- Solutions for all common tax problems
- Competing quotes from multiple tax relief firms in one place
Debt Boss does not provide tax relief services itself, rather it is a website that allows you to compare financial companies from one location. After filling out a quick questionnaire, you’ll be matched with companies that you are eligible to work with. If you can’t settle on one company, you can automatically reach out to multiple firms to discuss your situation over a free consultation.
The application process is straightforward and doesn’t require any personal information until you’ve been matched with a company.
Pros
- Compare several companies from one location
- Reach out to multiple companies with one application
- No cost to use the service
Cons
- Does not offer any tax relief services itself
How to determine the best tax relief company for you
Our list of the best tax relief companies includes reputable firms with great to excellent customer ratings and staffs of licensed tax professionals. These firms offer a long list of tax relief services that can be used to try and reduce your total tax liability.
That being said, which specific company you work with will depend on a few factors.
These factors include:
- Availability: Is the company available in your state? Does it help with federal and state taxes?
- Expertise: The reason you work with a tax relief firm is that they have experienced tax attorneys and licensed agents that can work with the IRS on your behalf to get your tax debt under control. If a firm doesn’t have experienced tax experts on staff, you shouldn’t work with that firm. If the company has years of experience, that’s a good sign.
- Customer satisfaction: Does the company have positive customer reviews and good ratings? Always check what customers have to say about their experiences before working with a company. These reviews can provide invaluable insight into the effectiveness of each company’s services.
- Customer service: Is it easy to get in touch with representatives? Does the company offer multiple ways of contacting them?
- Cost: During your free consultation, ask the representative to explain what costs you may incur and how they are determined. While upfront fees are common in the industry, they shouldn’t be thousands of dollars. If a company asks for thousands of dollars before any services have been performed, that’s a red flag.
- Benefits: What does each company offer to stand out among its competitors? For example, is there a money-back guarantee? Is there a free consultation?
These factors were considered during our review of our partners above to determine which company was the best. At the conclusion of our research, TRA was determined to be the best.
What do tax relief firms do?
Working with a tax relief company usually starts with a free consultation. You’ll explain the details of your tax issue to a representative over the phone so they can do a quick analysis of your situation and determine whether you’re eligible for one of the tax relief services they offer.
Side note: All of the best tax relief companies listed above offer a free phone consultation. To get started, click to a company’s website and fill out a brief form or call the number listed on this page.
If you’re deemed eligible on the consultation call, you’ll likely be asked to pay an upfront fee between $250 and $495 to get started. The company will contact the IRS or your state tax authority to get updated records of your account to devise a plan of action. The team assigned to your case will review this information, determine the best solution, and walk you through the process and costs before moving forward.
Finally, they’ll work to resolve your tax debts. This might include using any of the following IRS tax relief services:
- Offer in Compromise: This is a way of settling tax debts without paying off the full amount. The amount you owe will depend on your assets and income.
- Installment agreements: These agreements let you pay back your tax debts in smaller increments over time without incurring interests or penalties. Setting up an installment agreement can halt wage garnishment and tax levies.
- Penalty abatement: If you meet certain requirements, you may be able to have any IRS penalties waived or reduced.
- Innocent spouse relief: This can keep you from being penalized for your spouse’s tax mistakes.
- Fresh Start Program: The IRS Fresh Start Program lets you spread your debts over five years. It requires a minimum debt of at least $50,000.
- Currently not collectible: If you can’t cover your tax debts, this status can pause all collection attempts. To be eligible, you’ll need to prove that you can’t cover basic living expenses while paying back your tax debts.
- Tax levy release: A tax levy is a way for the IRS to seize your assets as a form of payment for outstanding debt. In certain circumstances, you can release this levy if you pay the amount owed, enter a payment plan, prove the levy will make it more difficult for you to repay the debt, or if you face economic hardship due to the levy.
- Stop wage garnishment: When the IRS garnishes your wages, it is withholding a portion of your paycheck to collect the debt owed to it. If you agree to a payment plan or come to a settlement, you may be able to stop this garnishment.
- Tax lien removal: A tax lien is when the IRS announces its intent to use an asset of yours to collect on the debt owed to it. In some cases, by proving an error on the IRS’s part or making partial payments, you can have this lien removed.
Is a tax relief company necessary?
We believe that working with a reputable tax relief company can be a smart option for those struggling to settle their tax debt with the IRS or state. These companies comprise tax attorneys, licensed professionals, CPAs, and other experts that have spent their careers familiarizing themselves with IRS rules and penalties.
These professionals can communicate with the IRS and your state on your behalf and determine if there is a tax relief program that can help you lower the total debt owed. The companies listed above offer a free consultation where you can discuss your situation, ask any questions you have, and find out if you’re eligible for tax debt relief.
The most important part of getting started is to work with a reputable company with a proven track record of helping individuals and businesses struggling with back taxes. Here are a few things you want from a tax relief company:
- A free consultation to ask questions and discuss your situation
- An experienced team of tax professionals who’ve helped others
- A breakdown of when and why certain fees may be charged
- Open lines of communication so you can ask for progress updates
- Positive reviews from customers and rating agencies
How much do tax resolution services cost?
- Partial upfront payment: Some firms require you to pay a portion of your total bill upfront. You will pay the rest once the issue has been resolved.
- Deposits: You might have to pay an initial fee to secure the company’s services, with the rest of your balance payable upon resolution.
- Payment plans: With a payment plan, you might make a monthly installment payment until your bill is fully settled.
In general, most firms charge an upfront fee to begin the investigation into your tax debts. For the best tax relief companies listed above, this fee ranges between $250 and $495, with Anthem Tax Services having the lowest upfront fee.
Additional charges depend on the service recommended. Each service varies but can generally fall between $250 to $7,500.
Side note: All the companies listed above offer a money-back guarantee for a specified period. If you’re unhappy with the services offered, make sure to inform them before this period ends to ensure you get your money back.
What happens if I don't repay my tax debt?
Failing to pay your tax bills can have serious consequences. First, it will lead to additional penalties and interest costs, only adding to your total balance owed over time.
The IRS can also garnish your wages (take part of your paycheck every month) or file levies and liens against your property, which could put your car, home, and other assets at risk, and may significantly hurt your credit. In some cases, you could even have your passport or driver’s license revoked.
That’s why it’s important to stay on top of your tax situation and ensure you take all the steps to maintain good standing with the IRS or your state tax authority.
How to avoid tax relief scams
Not all companies offering tax relief are reputable. Scams are common in this industry. Before you pay for professional tax relief services, take steps to verify the company you’re using is legitimate and trustworthy.
You should:
- Talk with a specialist on the phone to confirm their experience and skills
- Check their reviews and ratings, especially with the Better Business Bureau
- Avoid paying any upfront fees until you’ve verified their capabilities
- Beware of too-good-to-be-true claims
All of the companies selected as our picks for the best tax relief companies have been vetted by our team and are considered great to excellent companies based on customer reviews.
Best Overall
- #1 Most Popular Choice Among TRA Visitors
- 4.7 of 5 from customers on Trustpilot
- 4.9 of 5 with the BBB giving them an overall A+ BBB Rating
- 50 states covered
- Customers with $10,000+ can get relief in back taxes
- Founder certified as "U.S. Dept. of Treasury Enrolled Agent"
- 100% Money Back Guarantee for 14-Days
- Free consultation, see if you qualify for tax relief
TRA offers solutions for personal tax debt, business tax debt, bank levies, wage garnishment, IRS penalties, and more. According to the company, a call today can get you a tax debt savings estimate, see if you’re qualified for the IRS Fresh Start Program, and get you a timeline for how long it’ll take to resolve your tax debt.
Pros
- 14-day money-back guarantee
- Free consultation
Cons
- No clear pricing model
- Saving money is not guaranteed
