Ideal Tax Review

3.6 _/5

LendEDU Rating

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Tax Relief Services

• Employs tax attorneys, CPAs, and ex-IRS agents
• Free initial consultation to discuss your tax issues

• Doesn’t disclose its minimum tax debt requirement
• Doesn’t disclose its initial fee ahead of the discovery stage

Ideal Tax was founded in 2010 to help its clients resolve tax debt issues. It offers solutions for a variety of tax problems, including unfiled returns, audits, liens, levies, and penalties.

If you owe $10,000 or more in back taxes, penalties, or interest, Ideal Tax may be able to help. It offers a free initial consultation to review your tax situation, and receives consistently solid reviews from customers.

Is Ideal Tax reputable?

Source	Customer rating	Total reviews
Trustpilot	4.1/5 stars	61
Google	4.0/5 stars	297
Facebook	4.1/5 stars	41
Better Business Bureau	4.19/5 stars	243

Ideal Tax has overall positive reviews across independent review sites, indicating its trustworthiness in the tax relief space. Common themes include professionalism, knowledge, and responsiveness of Ideal Tax’s case managers.

However, there are a few negative reviews from clients on communication and failure to solve tax issues after spending several thousand dollars on services. It’s recommended that fees, expectations, and any guarantees are discussed during the consultation and put in writing before making any payments.

Ideal Tax has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2014, but does not have any accreditations by the IRS or other agencies.

How does Ideal Tax work?

The onboarding process starts with a free consultation where Ideal Tax reviews your tax situation to determine if it can help. If qualified, you work with a case manager to provide details on income, expenses, assets, and tax balances owed. This information is used to create a customized resolution plan and cost estimate.

Ideal Tax negotiates with the IRS on your behalf to resolve tax issues like audits, liens, levies, and penalties. It helps file necessary paperwork to establish installment agreements, amend returns, or request penalty abatement. Reaching a resolution can take between three months and one year, depending on the complexity of your case.

What services does Ideal Tax offer?

Ideal Tax offers a wide range of tax resolution services. These include:

• Amended tax returns: Amends previous tax returns to correct errors and potentially qualify clients for additional tax relief.
• Back taxes: Helps resolve unpaid personal income taxes, business taxes, and non-filer issues. It negotiates with the IRS to lower tax debt amounts owed and set up installment plans.
• Bank levy: Works to release levies on your bank account the IRS may have placed due to overdue taxes. It challenges the levy and negotiates with the IRS to reestablish the account or find other resolutions.
• IRS audit: Helps handle IRS audits by reviewing records, preparing documentation, negotiating with auditors, and appealing audits decisions and outcomes as needed.
• Offers in compromise: Submits OICs to settle tax debt for less than what is owed through offers accepted by the IRS based on income, expenses, assets, and liability balances.
• Penalty abatement: Files requests to reduce or drop tax penalties when errors or reasonable circumstances warrant it. It negotiates with the IRS to challenge imposed penalties on your behalf.
• Currently Non-Collectible status: Closes IRS collection activities like liens, levies, and garnishments through negotiating for CNC status which pauses collection for up to six years if you cannot pay the balance owed.

How much does Ideal Tax cost?

Ideal Tax charges variable costs for its services based on the resolution service and the amount of tax debt owed. Unfortunately, Ideal Tax doesn’t disclose any information on how much each service costs or whether it charges upfront fees. Be sure to ask about these costs if you schedule a free consultation with the company.

Idea Tax doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, so once its team begins working on your case, you’ll be responsible for paying any fees associated with its services.

How much can Ideal Tax save me?

Ideal Tax works to reduce the total tax liability owed to the IRS. It may be able to settle tax debt for less than the full amount due based on your ability to pay. This can result in forgiveness of a portion of taxes owed which equates to money saved.

Ideal Tax also stops expensive IRS collection activities like liens, levies, and garnishments that accrue fees and interest charges. By pausing collections through a currently not collectible status, Ideal Tax saves you money that would otherwise continue to be incurred and added to your tax balance due.

Pros and cons of Ideal Tax

Pros

• Free initial consultation to determine if you qualify for its services

• Employs licensed tax professionals who negotiate with the IRS on your behalf

• Resolution plans are customized based on your needs and what you can afford

Cons

• Does not disclose pricing on website so actual costs are unknown prior to a consultation

• No guaranteed timeline for resolution as each case varies in complexity

• Does not offer a money-back guarantee period

The most significant benefit with Ideal Tax is the potential to save money through reduced tax liability and halted collections. The main drawbacks are the unknowns around costs and how long it will take to resolve your tax issue.

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How do you start working with Ideal Tax?

You can start working with Ideal Tax in just a few steps.

1. Free consultation. You’ll provide an overview of your tax situation and the representative you speak with will determine whether you are eligible for its services. This typically takes 15 to 30 minutes over the phone.
2. Gather your tax records. This includes returns, notices, and levies or lien documents. This allows Ideal Tax to verify amounts due and determine what the best approach is for resolution. This can take a few days to complete.
3. Speak to your Tax Associate. Review your situation in detail and discuss the proposed plan of action. This review and plan creation can take a couple of weeks depending on complexity.
4. Formalize the agreement. Submit or sign any required paperwork to formalize the agreement between you and Ideal Tax for services to start. This may including filing a Power of Attorney with the IRS so that you can be fully represented by Ideal Tax.
5. Meet your case manager: You will be assigned a case manager who will be there to assist you throughout the process of resolution, they will be your point of contact and may require more necessary paperwork to get you the best resolution.

Ideal Tax has an in-house customer service team. The team helps clients resolve any issues with their accounts including questions on resolution plans, payments, IRS notifications received, and timelines. Clients work directly with a dedicated case manager for the specifics of their situation who acts as the main point of contact. However, the customer service department can be reached for general inquiries and assistance.

Does Ideal Tax have a customer service team?

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 1 (888) 720-0442
• Mailing Address: 2 MacArthur PI, Suite 300, Santa Ana, CA 92707

Alternatives to Ideal Tax

When comparing Ideal Tax to other prominent tax relief firms like Larson Tax Relief, Anthem Tax Relief, and Tax Hardship Center, it’s important to consider the distinct strengths each company offers and how they might align with your specific needs.

Larson Tax Relief

Larson Tax Relief is highly regarded for its meticulous initial investigations, earning it the best initial investigation award and a 4.7 rating. This firm’s thorough and detailed approach to assessing tax situations makes it an excellent choice for clients with complex tax issues that require careful analysis.

While Ideal Tax also offers comprehensive services, Larson’s specialized focus on in-depth initial assessments could give it an edge for clients who prioritize a highly detailed initial evaluation.

Anthem Tax Relief

Anthem Tax Relief stands out for its exceptional customer service, reflected in its 4.9 rating and a best service guarantee. This guarantee provides clients with an additional layer of confidence, ensuring they receive consistent and personalized support throughout the tax resolution process.

While Ideal Tax offers tailored solutions and flexible payment options, Anthem’s superior customer service and guarantee might make it a better fit for those who value ongoing support and reassurance during their tax resolution journey.

Tax Hardship Center

Tax Hardship Center is known for its compassionate approach to helping clients in severe financial distress. With a 4.2 rating, the firm specializes in negotiating with the IRS to secure the most favorable outcomes for clients facing significant financial challenges.

While Ideal Tax provides personalized and flexible solutions, Tax Hardship Center’s expertise in handling cases of extreme financial hardship might make it the preferred choice for individuals in particularly difficult financial situations.

Read our recommendations for the best tax relief companies to consider other alternatives.

FAQ

Is Ideal Tax a legit company?

Yes, Ideal Tax is a legitimate company that provides tax relief services to individuals and businesses facing tax issues. The company is known for offering tailored solutions and has built a reputation for helping clients navigate complex tax situations.

As with any tax relief service, it’s recommended to review client testimonials, check professional accreditations, and ensure that the company’s offerings align with your specific needs before engaging their services.

Is it worth paying Ideal Tax to help with tax issues?

Paying Ideal Tax to assist with tax issues can be worth it, especially if you’re dealing with a complicated tax situation that you’re unable to resolve on your own. Ideal Tax offers personalized solutions and flexible payment options, which can be particularly beneficial if you need a tailored approach.

Its expertise can potentially save you time, reduce stress, and help you achieve a more favorable outcome with the IRS. However, the value of their services will depend on your specific tax situation and the complexity of the issues you’re facing.

How much does Ideal Tax charge for its tax relief services?

The cost of Ideal Tax’s services can vary depending on the complexity of your tax situation and the specific services you require. While prices are not always publicly disclosed, clients can generally expect to pay between $1,000 and $7,000 or more for comprehensive tax relief services.

Ideal Tax offers flexible payment options, which can make their services more accessible. Wer recommend discussing your situation with Ideal directly to get a clear estimate based on your unique circumstances.

How we rated Ideal Tax

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best student loans. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared College Ave to several student loan lenders, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating and best-for designation, recapped below

Product	Rating
Ideal Tax relief services	3.6