Dealing with tax debt can be stressful—both financially and emotionally.
Our picks for the best tax relief firms work with the IRS on your behalf to resolve overdue taxes and can help you repay your debts and minimize the financial penalties that come with them.
Below, you’ll find the best tax relief companies based on hours of research into costs, expertise, customer satisfaction, customer service, benefits, and more.
Review the 6 best tax relief companies
- Best money-back guarantee: Anthem Tax Services
- Best tax relief guidance: Tax Hardship Center
- Best all-around tax experience: Community Tax
- Best for one upfront fee: Precision Tax Relief
- Best free consultation: Larson Tax Relief
- Best for small debts: Tax Rise
Anthem Tax Services
Why it’s one of the best
Anthem Tax Services offers tax relief and tax preparation services to individuals and businesses. Enjoy a 100% money-back guarantee assurance if you don’t save money or have your debt reworked.
What you should know |
|
---|---|
Free consultation | Yes |
Money-back guarantee | Yes, if you don’t save money or have your debt reworked |
Minimum tax debt | $10,000 |
How does it work?
1) Take advantage of a free consultation with a tax expert to discuss your situation and hear how the company can help.
2) Agree to let a team of experts from the company investigate your situation further by reaching out to the IRS on your behalf.
3) If the team determines you have options to reduce your tax debt, they’ll reach out to you to discuss your options.
4) Once an option is chosen, a filing will be made to the IRS to reach the best resolution.
Customer satisfaction
The company has also received an A+ rating (the highest offered) from the BBB. This rating represents the BBB’s opinion of how likely a business is to interact with its customers. This can include complaints, amongst other things.
Benefits
Another benefit includes working with an experienced company with accreditation from the National Association of Tax Professionals, California Tax Education Council, National Association of Enrolled Agents, and more.
Lastly, the free consultation is a great way to decide whether or not the company is right for you.
Key takeaways
-
100% money-back guarantee if you don’t save money or have your debt reworked
-
Free consultation
-
No pricing details
Ready to get started? Click here.
Tax Hardship Center
Why it’s one of the best
Tax Hardship Center offers various tax relief solutions to individuals and businesses, including offers in compromise, partial payment agreements, installment agreements, penalty abatement, and tax audit representation. In addition to tax relief services, the company can also help those in need of tax preparation services.
What you should know |
|
---|---|
Free consultation | Call 844-332-3001 |
Money-back guarantee | Yes, for 14 days |
Minimum tax debt | $10,000 |
How does it work?
1) You’ll have a free consultation with a tax resolution expert. You don’t need to schedule an appointment; just call when you’re ready.
2) The company and its team of experts will communicate with the IRS on your behalf to investigate the situation. The team will conduct a financial analysis and, when ready, review case options with you.
3) The final step is to establish filing compliance with the IRS and reach the best resolution. The company will advise you on the steps needed to remain in good standing with the IRS moving forward.
Customer satisfaction
Additionally, the company has received an A+ rating (the highest offered) 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.
Benefits
Second, you can take advantage of a free consultation to discuss your situation and see how Tax Hardship Center can help. If you aren’t a good fit or you don’t like the process, you can pass on working with them at no loss to you.
Third, all clients enjoy a 14-day money-back guarantee. This gives you peace of mind knowing that you’ll have two weeks to work with the company before having to commit fully.
Key takeaways
-
14-day money-back guarantee
-
Positive client reviews and ratings
-
No maximum tax debt
-
Can assist with tax preparation
-
Must have at least $10,000 in tax debt
-
The average customer pays $3,750 to resolve their tax issues
Ready for a free consultation? Click here.
Tax Rise
Why it’s one of the best
Tax Rise employs a team of tax professionals that can help individuals and businesses deal with tax debt from both the IRS and the state. Tax Rise stands out for its low minimum debt requirement of $5,000 because most tax relief companies require you to have at least $10,000 of debt.
What you should know |
|
---|---|
Free consultation | Yes |
Money-back guarantee | Yes |
Minimum tax debt | $5,000 |
How does it work?
1) Discover and strategy: Beginning with a free consultation, you’ll speak to a tax relief professional from Tax Rise to discuss your situation to determine what the best plan of action is.
2) Resolution: Tax Rise will establish compliance with the relevant tax authority and then communicate with the IRS or the state on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome.
Customer satisfaction
The company has also received an A+ rating (the highest offered) from the BBB.
Benefits
Key takeaways
-
100% resolution guarantee or your money back
-
Lower minimum tax debt requirement than other companies
-
100% compliance guarantee
-
Cost details aren’t disclosed
Ready to get started? Click here.
Community Tax
Why it’s one of the best
Community Tax is a tax resolution firm for individuals and businesses. It can help you establish payment plans, installment agreements, offers in compromise, and more. The company also offers accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation services.
What you should know |
|
---|---|
Free consultation | Call 855-812-4507 |
Money-back guarantee | No |
Minimum tax debt | $7,500 |
How does it work?
1) Have a free consultation with an experienced professional who will hear your case and provide a free tax analysis discussing your potential options.
2) An investigation will occur where the team assigned to your case will reach out to the IRS or state on your behalf. This allows the team to gather a record of your account to determine the best path forward.
3) Once you and your team choose how you’d like to resolve the issue, the resolution stage begins. This included submitting a proposal to the IRS or state to resolve your tax debts.
Customer satisfaction
In addition to the ratings above, the company has received an A+ rating (the highest offered) from the BBB. This rating represents the BBB’s opinion on how likely a business is to interact with its customers.
Benefits
Anytime you consider a third party to help you with financial issues, it’s essential to review that company’s credibility. With Community Tax, you’ll have access to a team of tax attorneys, licensed professionals, and other experts.
Key takeaways
-
Free consultation
-
Offers tax preparation services
-
Pricing is not disclosed
-
No money-back guarantee
Ready to get started? Click here.
Precision Tax Relief
Why it’s one of the best
Precision Tax Relief specializes in resolving and reducing IRS or state tax debt for individuals and businesses. It charges one upfront fee based on your consultation which helps you avoid unexpected costs.
What you should know |
|
---|---|
Free consultation | Yes |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Minimum tax debt | $10,000 |
How does it work?
1) Have a free consultation with an expert to discuss your tax troubles and learn more about the company and its services.
2) Receive protection from the IRS while the Precision Tax team works on your case.
3) Get your tax debt resolved
Customer satisfaction
The BBB has also given the company an A+ rating (the highest offered).
Benefits
In addition to its experience, Precision Tax Relief offers a free consultation and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Key takeaways
-
30-day money-back guarantee
-
No hidden fees
-
Free consultation
-
Pricing is not disclosed
Ready to get started? Click here.
Larson Tax Relief
Why it’s one of the best
Larson Tax Relief offers tax relief services to individuals and businesses dealing with business or personal tax debts. The company has been helping its clients since 2005. It offers all prospective clients a free consultation where it will look into your federal and state tax debts for free.
What you should know |
|
---|---|
Free consultation | Yes |
Money-back guarantee | 15 days |
Minimum tax debt | $25,000 |
How does it work?
Customer satisfaction
The BBB has also given the company an A+ rating (the highest offered).
Benefits
Key takeaways
-
Free consultation
-
15-day money-back guarantee
-
Must have at least $25,000 in tax debts
-
Must call to receive pricing information
Ready to get started? Click here.
How we chose the best tax relief companies
In our most recent evaluation of tax relief companies, our team compared 16 companies to determine what they were the best for and how they stood out in the industry.
Here are the six categories that we reviewed to score each company:
- Eligibility
- Cost
- Expertise
- Customer experience
- Consultation
- Benefits
Once we scored each company, we then determined which was the best for different situations. If a company wasn’t the best for anything, it was not included on this page.
How tax relief works
Working with a tax relief company usually starts with a free consultation. You’ll chat with a representative, give them details on your tax issues, and the company will do a quick analysis of your situation to determine which tax relief service can help you.
Next, the company will contact the IRS or your state tax authority to get the updated records of your account. They’ll review this, 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 relief options:
- Offer in Compromise: This is a way of settling tax debts without paying off the full amount. Check out our guide on how to negotiate an Offer in Compromise with the IRS.
- Installment agreements: These agreements let you pay back your tax debts in smaller increments without incurring interest or penalty. Setting up an installment agreement can halt wage garnishment as well. Check out our guide on how to set up a payment plan with the IRS.
- 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 off over a five-year period. It requires a minimum debt of at least $50,000.
Tax relief firms can also help you qualify for Currently Not Collective status, which puts any collections efforts by the IRS on hold — at least temporarily.
>> Read More: What is tax relief?
Is tax relief worth it?
Tax relief assistance comes with potentially high fees, so it’s usually best reserved for people with high amounts of debt. For example, according to the Tax Hardship Center, the average client pays $3,750 for its services. Consumers already struggling financially may find fees in this range hard to bear. You’ll want to be sure the savings will outweigh the fee before moving forward.
If you’re not prepared to pay the fees for help from tax professionals, you can work with the IRS directly to file for Currently Not Collectible status, set up an installment plan, or apply for any other relief programs. The Federal Trade Commission has detailed instructions on many of these options, as well as how you can apply online.
You can also use the IRS’ Taxpayer Advocate Service for help, or contact the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasures for state-related tax assistance.
It’s also recommended you speak with a financial advisor who can review your situation before you decide to work with a tax relief company.
How to avoid tax relief scams
Not all companies offering tax relief are reputable. In fact, 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
When in doubt, consult a local CPA or accountant for guidance. They can point you toward legitimate solutions for your needs.
Recap of the best tax relief companies
Company | Best for | Minimum debt | Our rating |
Tax Hardship Center | Best tax relief guidance | $10,000 | 4.7 stars |
Anthem Tax Services | Best money-back guarantee | $10,000 | 4.6 stars |
Tax Rise | Best for small debts | $5,000 | 4.6 stars |
Community Tax | Best all-around tax experience | $10,000 | 4.3 stars |
Precision Tax Relief | Best for one upfront fee | $10,000 | 4.9 stars |
Larson Tax Relief | Best free consultation | $25,000 | 4.6 stars |