Why Am I Getting Tax Debt Relief Calls?

Getting called up by a tax debt company can be a little disconcerting, to say the least. How did tax relief companies get my number, anyway? Do I actually owe money I wasn’t aware of? If I know I have a balance, are these tax debt relief calls a scam, or can they really help? 😬

You’re right to be cautious. According to the IRS, tax debt relief is among the most common tax-related scams each year. If someone cold-calls you about tax debt relief or you get tax relief robocalls, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. But that’s not always the case, and we’ll show you how to tell them apart. 

Table of Contents

1. Tax debt relief vs. tax debt collections
   1. Tax collections
   2. Tax debt relief
   3. How to know a tax relief company is legit
2. Are tax debt relief calls a scam?
3. How did tax relief companies get my number?
4. How to get the calls to stop
5. What to do if you need tax debt relief

Know the difference: Tax debt relief vs. tax debt collections

First, it’s important to know whether you’re being contacted by a tax debt collector or a tax debt relief company. One is trying to alert you to something important; the other is trying to sell you a product. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference.

Both can still be scams, but they do it in different ways. And if you know their aims, you can figure out:

• Is it real?
• Does it apply to you?
• Is it worth it? 

Tax collections: You owe back taxes

It’s possible you owe back taxes at the federal, state, or local level. Each taxing authority has its own ways of contacting you, which can help clue you in on whether you’re dealing with a legit tax debt. 

Take the feds, for example. The IRS doesn’t do cold calls, at least not without sending you a written notice first. If you haven’t gotten any such letter, you can then be sure that any IRS tax relief calls you get are phony. 

For other taxing authorities, you’ll need to contact them directly to be sure. This varies depending on where you live. Here’s a good resource to find out which taxing agencies might apply to you.

Tax debt relief: A company is advertising its services

A tax debt relief company, on the other hand, isn’t trying to get your attention about a debt you owe it. If it’s a legitimate company, it’s simply trying to advertise its services. Scammers, however, know big tax debts are scary and confusing, and they use that to their advantage.

Many consumer debt relief companies negotiate directly with private creditors, such as credit card issuers or medical providers. Tax relief companies are different. They work within IRS and state tax authority programs, such as payment plans, penalty abatement, or Offer in Compromise (OIC), rather than negotiating informal settlements.

That distinction matters. While tax relief companies can’t invent solutions outside the tax code, they can help taxpayers navigate complex IRS and state processes, prepare documentation, and communicate with tax authorities on their behalf.

How to know a tax relief company is legit

It’s important to separate tax relief scams from legitimate tax relief companies.

Reputable tax relief firms like Anthem Tax Services employ or contract with licensed professionals, such as Enrolled Agents (EAs), Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), and tax attorneys. For taxpayers with complex situations (multiple years of unfiled returns, business income, wage garnishments, liens, or large balances), professional help can be a practical choice.

It’s crucial to know when help adds value and how to avoid companies that overpromise or oversell.

Are tax debt relief calls a scam? A checklist of warning signs

Not all tax debt relief calls are scams, but cold calls and robocalls are major red flags. Reputable firms typically rely on inbound inquiries, referrals, or requested consultations, not unsolicited outreach.

Be wary of:

• Companies asking for a large upfront fee.
• High-pressure sales tactics, like limited-time offers.
• Phone calls claiming to be the IRS, offering tax debt relief.
• Pushy or aggressive representatives who make shady threats.
• Making unrealistic claims, like settling your tax debt for pennies on the dollar.

If a company seems legit and you’re interested in working with it, here are some other steps to make sure it’s a real company:

• Look the company up online and read reviews. 
• Read through the company’s refund policy. (It does have one, right?)
• Ask how many tax professionals the company hires, compared to salespeople.
• Check with your state attorney general for complaints against the company. 
• Check with your state’s financial or insurance department to make sure it’s licensed (if required in your state).

How did tax relief companies get my number?

The IRS doesn’t exactly publish a list of names to shame debtors, so it’s a good question. Tax debt relief companies, like many businesses, can easily buy information about you, like your name, address, and phone number, in batches from large online data brokers. 

They could be targeting you, specifically, for several reasons:

• Random spray-and-pray tax relief robocalls. 
• A targeted ad campaign, based on things like tracking your online browsing history.
• They did a public records search and found tax liens linked to your property, indicating a tax debt that you’re struggling to pay. 

If you’re not aware of any tax debts you owe, being contacted by a tax debt relief company could indicate that you owe taxes somewhere, but not always. Unless it’s an obvious scam in your spam folder next to the Nigerian prince emails, it’s not a bad idea to double-check with taxing authorities if you’re worried. 

How to get the calls to stop

If tax relief companies won’t stop hounding you, there are a few ways you can fight back and get them to stop:

• Ask the company to add you to its own internal do-not-call list: Companies aren’t allowed to call you, whether you’re on the national registry or not, if you ask. 
• Add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry: Legit companies can’t call you in the first place for telemarketing reasons if you put your name on this list.
• Block the calls on your phone: The national registry stops legitimate companies from calling you, but that doesn’t stop scammers. Instead, consider blocking those specific numbers directly.
• Report scammers to the government: You can alert authorities to scammers and help prevent them from luring others by reporting them to the right people.

What to do if you’re looking for tax debt relief help

For whatever reason, tax debt tends to feel especially stressful. And if your situation is straightforward, many taxpayers can work directly with the IRS or their state using free tools like the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service or Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics.

That said, there are situations where professional help makes sense, especially if you’re dealing with large balances, multiple tax years, business income, liens, or aggressive collection activity.

In those cases, a reputable tax relief company can help organize your financial information, manage deadlines, and communicate with tax authorities on your behalf. The key is choosing a firm with transparent pricing, licensed professionals, and clear guarantees.

If you’re considering professional help, we recommend starting with reputable tax relief companies that have a track record of working within IRS and state programs and avoiding any company that guarantees results before reviewing your financial situation.

For example, companies like Anthem Tax Services emphasize credentialed staff and offer a money-back guarantee if they’re unable to reduce or restructure a client’s tax debt. Even then, it’s still important to confirm who will handle your case and what services are included before you move forward.