Best Tax Relief Companies

Dealing with tax debt can be stressful — both financially and emotionally. Fortunately, there are a number of tax relief companies that can help.

These firms work with the IRS on your behalf to resolve overdue taxes, and they can help you repay your debts and minimize the financial penalties that come with them as well.

If you’re behind on your federal or state taxes, use this guide to find a tax relief company that can help.

In this guide:

• Compare the best IRS tax relief firms
• Reviews of the best tax relief companies
• How to choose the best tax relief company
• How tax relief works
• Is tax relief worth it?
• How to avoid tax relief scams

Compare the best IRS tax relief firms

Best tax relief companies

There are a number of tax relief firms you can choose from. If you’re not sure where to start, here are our picks for the best tax relief companies.

Anthem Tax Services

Anthem Tax Services offers tax relief and tax preparation services. The standout benefit of Anthem is its 100% money-back guarantee, which promises to return your fees if they’re unable to improve your situation.

Anthem offers a variety of tax debt-relief options, including garnishment and levy release, offers in compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatements, and more for clients with at least $10,000 in tax debts. The company also provides personal and corporate tax preparation, as well as bookkeeping services.

As a company, Anthem comes highly rated. It has a 4.2 rating on Trustpilot and an A- with the Better Business Bureau.

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Community Tax

Community Tax is a tax resolution firm that can help you establish payment plans, installment agreements, offers in compromise, and more. The company also offers accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation services.

Though fees for the company’s services vary depending on how much debt you have and the complexity of the issue, Community Tax does offer a 100% money-back guarantee. It also does not require the $10,000 minimum debt that others on this list do (though customers with higher debts will likely see a bigger ROI).

Community Tax comes with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and consumers have given the company a 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

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Tax Hardship Center

The Tax Hardship Center offers a variety of tax relief solutions, including offers in compromise, partial payment agreements, installment agreements, penalty abatement, and tax audit representation. Like the others on this list, the company also offers tax preparation services.

To be eligible, you’ll need at least $10,000 in tax debt — either federal, state, or both. Though the basic fee for services starts at $495, according to the Center, the average client pays around $3,750 for tax relief help.

The Tax Hardship Center currently has an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. Customers have given it a 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

Optima Tax Relief

Optima Tax Relief specializes in resolving and reducing IRS or state tax debt. The company has resolved over $1 billion in tax debt to date through its tax resolution services. These services include negotiating an installment agreement, penalty abatement, wage garnishment release, and more.

To get started, the company offers a free consultation that allows you to better understand your options before having to make any payments. If you find one of the services provided can help you deal with the IRS, you can move to the investigation stage. The investigation stage allows the company’s tax professionals to begin an investigation and contact the IRS on your behalf. Once contact is made, the company will spend the next few months negotiating with the IRS to secure you the best resolution.

The tax professionals at Optima Tax Relief are in-house and consist of tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents. The company offers a 15-day money-back satisfaction guarantee for those that are unhappy with the support they received.

Optima Tax Relief has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and an excellent rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

SuperMoney

SuperMoney offers a tax relief pre-qualification engine that helps consumers determine if they are a good candidate for an IRS hardship program and if they qualify for free. SuperMoney does not offer tax relief services itself; instead, it allows consumers to request competing quotes from multiple industry-leading companies that provide these services.

If you click to get a quote with the tool, you’ll be asked a few questions and then given the option to send a request for support to each firm for free. The comparison tool is straightforward and easy to navigate for those that prefer to submit a request to multiple companies at once.

SuperMoney has an excellent rating on Trustpilot with a score of 4.7 out of 5.

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How to choose the best tax relief company

Choosing the best tax relief company shouldn’t be done lightly. The firm you choose will have your finances in their hands, and your financial stability depends on their skills and experience.

If you want to make sure you select the absolute best option for your back tax needs, you’ll want to ask about:

• Record of success: What have they done for past customers? How much have they saved others in your situation?
• Costs: How do the fees work? Are they fixed or are there added fees at every turn? Learn more about tax relief costs with our guide.
• Reviews: What do past customers say about the firm? Would they use them again if necessary?
• Staff: Who would be handling your case? Are they licensed? Do they have any IRS enrolled agents on the team?

Make sure you’re thorough in your search, and get a clear picture of what you can expect — both service- and cost-wise, before moving forward with a tax relief provider.

How tax relief works

Working with a tax relief company usually starts off 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 and the potential options you may have.

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.

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.

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	Initial Cost	Minimum Debt
Anthem Tax Services	$250	$10,000
Community Tax	$250	Not disclosed
Tax Hardship Center	$495	$10,000
Optima Tax Relief	$495	$10,000
SuperMoney	Varies	Varies