Kemberley WashingtonCertified Public Accountant
Kemberley Washington is a tax journalist and provides consumer-friendly tax tips for individuals and businesses. Her work goes beyond tax articles. She has been instrumental in tax product reviews and online tax calculators to help individuals make informed tax decisions. Her work has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Bankrate.com, SmartAsset, Black Enterprise, New Orleans Agenda, and more. She frequently appears on NBC's WDSU news broadcast.
Kemberley Washington
Kemberley WashingtonCertified Public Accountant
Kemberley Washington is a tax journalist and provides consumer-friendly tax tips for individuals and businesses. Her work goes beyond tax articles. She has been instrumental in tax product reviews and online tax calculators to help individuals make informed tax decisions. Her work has been featured in Yahoo Finance, Bankrate.com, SmartAsset, Black Enterprise, New Orleans Agenda, and more. She frequently appears on NBC's WDSU news broadcast.
Certified Public Accountant
Caren WeinerLead Editor, Taxes & Consumer Finance
Since her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and investment-related stories and visualizations have been featured by NerdWallet, Bankrate, AARP, Money and GoodRx.She has also worked at lifestyle publications including InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and All You.
Reviewed
Caren Weiner
Caren WeinerLead Editor, Taxes & Consumer Finance
Since her first tax article appearing more than three decades ago in Money magazine, Caren Weiner has written and edited stories about money management topics ranging from investment fees and health costs to household budgets. Her finance- and investment-related stories and visualizations have been featured by NerdWallet, Bankrate, AARP, Money and GoodRx.She has also worked at lifestyle publications including InStyle, Entertainment Weekly and All You.
Lead Editor, Taxes & Consumer Finance
Reviewed
Updated: May 29, 2024, 6:00am
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Note: The deadline to file your 2023 tax return was Monday, April 15, 2024.
Tax relief companies say they can work with the IRS and state tax agencies to reduce or eliminate your tax debt. But the Federal Trade Commission and other government agencies warn that some of these businesses make bogus claims, charge high fees and fail to deliver on their promises. And you may be able to negotiate with the IRS on your own.
If you do decide to work with a tax relief company, Forbes Advisor has you covered. We analyzed 11 tax relief companies and selected the top three, based on product and process details, transparency, customer service and business history.
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Get the right tax solution to resolve tax debt ahead of time with year-round tax assistance.
Get help from experienced enrolled agents and CPAs to efficiently file your taxes.
Show Summary
- Best Tax Relief Companies Of June 2024
- Fortress Tax Services
- Optima Tax Relief
- Community Tax
- Summary: Best Tax Relief Companies
- Methodology
- What Are Tax Relief Services?
- How Do Tax Relief Services Work?
- How Much Do Tax Relief Companies Charge?
- What Common Issues Can a Tax Relief Company Help With?
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Best Tax Relief Companies Of June 2024
BEST FOR COMPLEX TAX ISSUES
Fortress Tax Relief
5.0
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Incorporated
2003
Fees
$1,000 to $15,000
BBB Rating
A+
On Fortress Tax Relief's Website
2003
$1,000 to $15,000
A+
Editor's Take
Fortress Tax Relief emerged as our top tax relief company. With more than 20 years in business, Fortress Tax says it hires only qualified attorneys to handle tax relief cases. New hires undergo a 500-hour, one-on-one training with senior tax resolution attorneys.
Fortress Tax Relief offers free tax consultations and provides a money-back guarantee during the initial stage of your tax relief case.
But be ready to pay a hefty bill for Fortress’s services. Fees to settle past tax debt could cost you thousands of dollars. That said, if you’re seeking an established company that has been in business for decades and you want a qualified attorney to handle your tax case, Fortress may be a good fit.
Pros & Cons
- Provides free tax consultations
- Offers a money-back guarantee during the initial phase of work
- A qualified attorney handles your tax relief case
- Fees could cost thousands of dollars on top of any payments toward tax debt
BEST FOR BACK TAXES RELIEF
Optima Tax Relief
3.6
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Incorporated
2011
Fees
N/A
BBB Rating
A+
On Optima Tax Relief's Website
2011
N/A
A+
Editor's Take
Optima Tax Relief offers a full range of tax resolution services, including assistance with penalty abatement, offers in compromise and other types of tax relief. Optima also helps with tax relief for levies, wage garnishment, liens, the filing of back tax returns and other situations.
Optima provides a three-step process to help clients resolve tax debts. The phases include a free consultation, an investigation of various options and the implementation of a solution.
We chose Optima Tax Relief as one of our top tax relief companies partly because it received a 79% satisfactory rating from more than 3,000 reviews on TrustPilot, far more than the competitors we analyzed. But proceed with caution. Optima Tax Relief has received hundreds of customer complaints on its Better Business Bureau profile.
This company offers a 15-day money back guarantee, though the guarantee applies only to fees paid in the investigation phase.
What are the fees? It’s difficult to know because Optima Tax Relief is not transparent about them. Its website provides no information on pricing.
Pros & Cons
- Provides free tax consultations
- Provides a 15-day money-back guarantee during the investigation phase
- Is not transparent about its tax resolution fees
- A contract is required (cancellation period depends on your situation)
BEST FOR ONGOING TAX MONITORING
Community Tax
3.5
Our ratings are calculated based on fees, rates, rewards and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.
Incorporated
2010
Fees
$295 and up
BBB Rating
A+
On Community Tax's Website
2010
$295 and up
A+
Editor's Take
Community Tax has been in business for more than 13 years and garners many favorable reviews on various consumer sites. The company’s three-step process to help resolve tax debts includes a free tax consultation, the filing of federal and state tax authorization forms and the creation of a resolution proposal based on documents gathered by the client.
Community Tax’s services include installment agreements, penalty abatement, offers in compromise and audit assistance to help reduce or eliminate tax debt. One advantage of Community Tax is that it provides a full range of tax help, encompassing such services as tax preparation and tax assurance.
The company offers free consultations but charges a $500 investigation fee when settling past debt. Also, be aware that Community Tax does not offer a money-back guarantee.
Pros & Cons
- Provides tax consultations at no charge
- Has favorable reviews across various platforms
- Doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee
Summary: Best Tax Relief Companies
| Company | Company - Logo | Forbes Advisor Rating | Forbes Advisor Rating - Image | Best For | Incorporated | Fees | BBB Rating | Learn More CTA text | Learn more CTA below text | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortress Tax Relief |  | 5.0 |  | Best for Complex Tax Issues | 2003 | $1,000 to $15,000 | A+ | Learn More | On Fortress Tax Relief's Website | |
| Optima Tax Relief |  | 3.6 |  | Best for Back Taxes Relief | 2011 | N/A | A+ | View More | ||
| Community Tax |  | 3.5 | | Best for Ongoing Tax Monitoring | 2010 | $295 and up | A+ | View More |
Methodology
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.
What Are Tax Relief Services?
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.
How Do Tax Relief Services Work?
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.
How Much Do Tax Relief Companies Charge?
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.
What Common Issues Can a Tax Relief Company Help With?
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
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a tax relief company?
A tax relief company aims to help taxpayers to help resolve back taxes. These companies often advertise they can reduce or eliminate taxes in exchange for upfront fees. But be wary. Some tax relief companies charge thousands to settle past tax debts without actually resolving the tax issues.
Before hiring a company, you should do careful research to avoid exorbitant fees.
Do I need to hire a tax relief company to reduce or eliminate my taxes?
You can often resolve your tax issues by working directly with the IRS or the state’s tax agency. You may also want to consider hiring a tax professional, such as a certified public accountant (CPA) or tax attorney.
The IRS has a number of programs available to help taxpayers resolve tax issues, such as various payment options and free resources for tax filing.
Does tax relief affect my credit score?
No. If you decide to hire a tax relief company to resolve your tax issues, that won’t have an impact on your credit score.
What information do I need to provide to a tax relief company?
The type of information you need to disclose generally depends on your tax situation. Many companies will conduct a free tax consultation; at that time, you’d discuss which documents you need to resolve your case. Usually, you would need to provide prior-year tax returns, tax notices, lien or wage garnishment records and tax transcripts.
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Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circ*mstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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