Best Tax Relief Companies of

How We Chose the Best Tax Relief Companies

Tax relief companies aim to help anyone who owes money in taxes achieve resolution. These services negotiate with the IRS or state tax agencies on taxpayers’ behalf to eliminate or reduce their tax debts, or stop back-tax collection. They can help initiate and manage settlements, establish installment agreements, obtain penalty relief and amend prior tax returns. They can also provide guidance on how to navigate most tax related problems.

But it’s important to know that not all tax relief companies are the same. And while many can help you settle your tax debt, some charge a hefty fee to do it. You also have to be careful—there are plenty of tax relief scam artists out there. Ensuring you hire a legitimate and reputable company is the best way to protect yourself and your money.

Our list of the best tax relief companies include credible businesses that have been thoroughly vetted by our team of industry experts across a number of critical criteria to ensure you get the highest level of support without any of the headache. Read on for an overview of the most important considerations when choosing the best tax relief companies on the market today.

Our Criteria 

Here’s a look at some of the criteria we used—and you should, too—when selecting the best tax relief company:

Licensed to Practice

One of the most important factors when comparing tax relief companies is that they have appropriate licensure. Typically, you’ll want to work with someone who is a licensed CPA, an enrolled agent or a tax attorney, as these are all authorized to practice before the IRS and represent taxpayers. 

Beyond having the right licenses, the person representing you should have plenty of experience and expertise in the industry. And they should be the person actually handling your case—some tax relief companies end up passing you along to a subcontracted case manager halfway across the country who may not be as familiar with your situation, and who may be harder to access.

Free Consultation

Just like doctors shouldn’t write a prescription until they understand your ailments, tax relief professionals shouldn’t develop a tax resolution strategy until they understand your liability and financials. A good tax relief company will offer a no cost, no obligation consultation or investigation during which you can provide information about your exact situation. This enables them to review your case and assess if and how they can help you. Many follow up with a report detailing the approach they would take and breaking down the cost of the services you require in order to obtain resolution. This exploratory phase is critical to the tax professional handling your case, and provides you with a full picture of exactly what you can expect before you commit.

Transparent About Pricing & Fees

While the price you’ll pay for tax relief services typically depends on the size of the debt you owe and the amount of work and time the company will be investing, the best companies are upfront about their costs after your initial consultation so you can make an informed decision. They should also share their pricing and fee structures—and exactly what is covered under the scope of work. Some companies charge hourly or monthly fees for the duration of time they’re providing services. Others charge a flat percentage of the amount you owe. Some companies will not accept clients with a tax debt below a specified threshold. These are important details you’ll need to know prior to committing to a tax relief company.

Be wary of companies that don’t ask for any information about your tax liability and financials before accepting payment. Often, this is an indicator that the company may not be legitimate. 

Realistic About Outcomes

Some tax relief companies overpromise on what they can deliver—they make grandiose claims about how quickly or easily they can resolve your tax issues, or how much they can reduce your debt before they’ve even reviewed your case.  If a tax relief company is making promises that seem too good to be true, they probably are. The reality is, it takes time to resolve overdo taxes. And while these services can often significantly reduce your tax debt, oftentimes, they can’t eliminate it entirely.

Satisfaction Guarantee

The best tax relief companies offer satisfaction or money back guarantees—if they don’t save you money or rework your payments, they’ll give you all or a portion of your money back. This provides peace of mind at a time when you’re already concerned about your finances.

Positive Customer Reviews & Ratings 

Few things are as valuable as insight from real taxpayers. Actual customers can speak to the experience, the outcomes and the customer service of a tax relief company, among other things. They can shed light on the pros and cons, and provide helpful guidance for navigating the process. By scouring customer reviews on a variety of reputable third party platforms, you can get a sense of what real people are saying before making our recommendations.

It’s also important to review a company’s rating on credible sites like the Better Business Bureau to ensure they are accredited and highly rated.