Many or all companies we feature compensate us. Compensation and editorial research influence how products appear on a page. Personal Finance Tax Relief Tax Resolution Services Updated Jul 12, 2024 8-min read Expert Approved Expert Approved This article has been reviewed by a Certified Financial Planner™ for accuracy. Written by Aly Yale Written by Aly Yale Expertise: Home equity, mortgages, real estate Aly Yale is a freelance writer with more than a decade of experience covering real estate and personal finance topics. Learn more about Aly Yale Reviewed by Andrew Steger, CFP® Reviewed by Andrew Steger, CFP® Expertise: Holistic financial planning, nonprofit endowments, tax planning, investment management, retirement planning, trust administration, estate planning, budgeting, cash flow analysis, business succession Andrew Steger, CFP®, provides financial planning and consulting services, assisting families, executives, and business owners with planning and executing successful futures. Learn more about Andrew Steger, CFP® Unpaid tax debt can lead to serious consequences, including wage garnishment, property liens, and substantial penalties and interest from the IRS. Tax relief companies can provide valuable assistance. If you’re facing overwhelming tax debt, an audit, or other tax issues, these tax resolution services might be a viable option to help you regain control of your financial situation. Table of Contents Skip to Section See your options by companySee your options by service List of services each company offers Click the company name from the table below to find out more about what it offers. CompanyOur ratingAnthem Tax Services4.9/5Larson Tax Relief4.7/5Community Tax4.6/5Precision Tax Relief4.6/5Optima Tax Relief4.3/5Tax Hardship Center4.2/5 Anthem Tax Services Best service guarantee 4.9 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Consultation Services it offers Anthem Tax Services can help you with the following: Audit representationCurrently not collectibleInstallment agreementsTax levy releaseOffer in compromiseStop wage garnishmentTax lien removalUnfiled tax returns Services it doesn’t offer Innocent spouse relief What else to know Money-back guarantee if you don’t save money or rework your paymentsSpecializes in both individual and business tax debt nationwideEmploys a team of enrolled agents, attorneys, and case managers Charges a fee of $250 to begin discoveryMust have at least $10,000 in tax debt Larson Tax Relief Best initial investigation 4.7 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Consultation Services it offers Larson Tax Relief offers: Installment agreementsTax levy releaseOffer in compromiseStop wage garnishmentTax lien removalUnfiled tax returns Services it doesn’t offer Audit representationCurrently not collectibleInnocent spouse relief What else to know Offers federal and state tax relief services for individuals and businessesExperienced team of enrolled agents, tax attorneys, and consultantsFree consultation and discovery phaseExcellent reviews from clients on Trustpilot15-day money-back guarantee Must have at least $25,000 in tax debtsTotal costs can fluctuate based on the required services Community Tax Best for debts under $10,000 4.6 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Consultation Services it offers Community Tax offers: Audit representationCurrently not collectibleInnocent spouse reliefInstallment agreementsTax levy releaseStop wage garnishmentTax lien removalUnfiled tax returns Services it doesn’t offer Offer in compromise What else to know Its requirement of $7,500+ in tax debt is lower than other companiesSolves federal and state tax debts for individuals and businessesEmploys enrolled agents, CPAs, and tax attorneysSpecializes in over 15 different tax issues $295 initial fee before it looks into your tax situation Precision Tax Relief Best for experience 4.6 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Consultation Services it offers Precision Tax Relief provides: Innocent spouse reliefInstallment agreementsTax levy releaseOffer in compromiseStop wage garnishmentTax lien removalUnfiled tax returns Services it doesn’t offer Audit representationCurrently not collectible What else to know Solves tax debts for individuals and businesses nationwide56 years of experience from a staff of enrolled agents, CPAs, and attorneysExcellent reviews from over 1,500 clients30-day money-back guarantee and service guarantee Must have at least $10,000 in tax debtDoesn’t accept clients with only state tax debt Optima Tax Relief Best for client care 4.3 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Consultation Services it offers Optima Tax Relief provides all the tax relief options we’ll discuss in more detail below: Audit representationCurrently not collectibleInnocent spouse reliefInstallment agreementsTax levy releaseOffer in compromiseStop wage garnishmentTax lien removalUnfiled tax returns What else to know Assists with individual and business tax debtsStaff includes tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs $295 fee to begin working with Optima Tax ReliefMust have at least $10,000 in tax debt Tax Hardship Center 4.2 /5 LendEDU Rating Free Consultation Services it offers Tax Hardship Center offers: Audit representationCurrently not collectibleInstallment agreementsTax levy releaseOffer in compromiseStop wage garnishmentTax lien removalUnfiled tax returns Services it doesn’t offer Innocent spouse relief What else to know Assists with individual and business tax debt issues14-day money-back guarantee No details on the expertise of the employed staff$495 fee before discovery services are offeredMust have at least $10,000 in tax debt What is each service? Here’s more about each of the services mentioned. Audit representation If the IRS audits your tax returns, seeking audit representation can help. A tax professional works on your behalf to gather financial documentation, meet with IRS auditors, and defend you. You can even appoint them as your power of attorney (POA) to manage the entire audit process. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterOptima Tax Relief Currently not collectible This status is for those unable to pay their tax debts. A tax resolution service can help you gather the necessary documentation and file for this status, potentially improving your chances of approval. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterOptima Tax Relief Innocent spouse relief For those dealing with a spouse’s or former spouse’s tax debts, innocent spouse relief ensures only the at-fault spouse is held responsible. This requires submitting IRS Form 8857 and supporting financial documentation. The following companies offer this service: Community TaxOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Installment agreements Installment agreements allow you to pay tax debts over time, helping to avoid additional penalties. A tax professional can help determine the best type of installment agreement for your situation and assist with the filing process. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterLarson Tax ReliefOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Tax levy release A tax levy allows the IRS to claim your assets to recoup debts. Tax professionals can negotiate with the IRS to release levies and explore other strategies, such as installment agreements and offers in compromise. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterLarson Tax ReliefOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Offer in compromise An offer in compromise allows you to settle your tax debt for less than you owe. A tax professional can help you apply and offer an appropriate amount to increase the chances of IRS approval. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesTax Hardship CenterLarson Tax ReliefOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Stop wage garnishment The IRS may garnish wages to collect overdue tax debts. A tax professional can help stop this garnishment by setting up an installment plan or using other methods. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterLarson Tax ReliefOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Tax lien removal A tax lien is the IRS’s claim on your assets to secure payment of tax debt. Tax professionals can help appeal liens by showing IRS errors, making payments, or filing for other options. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterLarson Tax ReliefOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Unfiled tax returns Resolving overdue taxes often starts with addressing unfiled tax returns. Tax professionals can help you file past returns and assist with any other tax issues. The following companies offer this service: Anthem Tax ServicesCommunity TaxTax Hardship CenterLarson Tax ReliefOptima Tax ReliefPrecision Tax Relief Our expert’s advice Andrew Steger CFP® Tax issues can range from small errors, such as transposing numbers or entering incorrect information, to more significant, such as underpaying estimated taxes, misreported or forgotten income, or not properly separating or reporting personal and business income or expenses. One issue becoming more and more frequent is compromised Social Security numbers. Take all precautions necessary to protect your data and personal information. This will make filing and getting rebates faster and easier. Remember, the IRS will never call you; it will always mail you a letter for correspondence. How much do tax resolution services cost? Most tax relief companies offer free consultations. This initial meeting allows you to understand the company’s approach and what they might be able to do for you. If you decide to proceed, you will often pay an initial investigation fee followed by charges for resolution services. The initial fee is usually a flat rate, while the cost of resolution services varies based on the recommended strategy and the total amount of tax debt. There’s no fixed average for these costs, but based on our research, the initial fee generally ranges from $250 to $500. The Tax Hardship Center reports that its clients pay around $3,750 on average for the entire service. For more detailed information, refer to our guide on how much tax relief services cost. What our expert recommends Andrew Steger CFP® Hiring an expert to help with tax issues is a big decision because it comes on the heels of an anxiety-inducing event. An easy place to start is to ask your personal tax preparer whether they provide audit protection services. They will be the most familiar with your tax situation. Second, weigh those options and costs against the services a third party can provide. How do I get started working with a tax relief company? Starting with a tax relief company begins with an initial consultation. During this meeting, you’ll discuss your tax problems, and the tax resolution professional will work to understand your specific issues. Next, the team will investigate your tax situation by contacting the IRS to obtain a complete record of your tax account. After reviewing this information, they will discuss resolution options and associated fees with you. Finally, the tax relief company will begin resolving your back taxes. This process may involve gathering necessary financial documentation, communicating with the IRS, and completing any required forms. Our expert recommends acting immediately Andrew Steger CFP® Delaying or avoiding responding to an IRS inquiry is unwise. It is best practice to respond right away and rectify the issues as soon as possible. If you are the subject of an IRS audit, all it takes is one mistake to be found, and there’s no limit to the number of years an auditor can go back to look for other mistakes. This can be time-consuming and stressful. It’s best to respond and seek help if necessary in a prudent manner. Compare your options Before you get started, make sure you compare your tax relief options. Fees, services, and experience all vary from one provider to the next. It’s important you consider several companies to ensure you’re getting the best one. Check out our guide to the best tax relief companies to get started. How we chose the best tax resolution services LendEDU evaluates tax relief companies to help readers find the best tax relief services. Our latest analysis reviewed 400 data points from 20 companies, with 20 data points collected from each. This information is gathered from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. These star ratings help us determine which companies are best for different situations. We don’t believe two companies can be the best for the same purpose, so we only show each best-for designation once. Recap of companies offering tax resolution services CompanyOur ratingAnthem Tax Services4.9/5Larson Tax Relief4.7/5Community Tax4.6/5Precision Tax Relief4.6/5Optima Tax Relief4.3/5Tax Hardship Center4.2/5