Facing tax debt? Learn what to look for in an honest and trustworthy tax resolution expert.
Are you staring at an unmanageable tax bill right now? Maybe you are a 1099 independent contractor who failed to pay quarterly estimated taxes. Maybe your business brought in more than you expected in 2023 and you failed to set aside enough money to pay your tax bill.
Or maybe you are a W-2 employee who didn’t have your withholdings set correctly and your employer didn’t take out enough payroll taxes to cover your tax burden. Individuals and businesses, alike, can face back taxes that can set them back financially.
How Much of a Tax Refund Should You Get?
Ideally, you want to file your tax returns before April 15 and come out roughly even, without owing the federal government money and without receiving a huge refund. You don’t want to give the IRS an interest-free loan of your money all year. But that’s a better alternative than facing a huge tax bill you can’t afford to pay.
If that happens and you owe $10,000 or more in past due taxes, you’ll want to pursue tax debt relief. Mistakes happen. Once you’re facing a large tax bill, your goals should be to:
- Avoid IRS collection action
- Reduce your tax debt through legal means
- Pay what you owe in a timely manner
Tax resolution professionals can help you resolve your IRS tax debt for less than you owe, to help you get your finances back on track faster. Here are five things to look for in tax resolution professionals.
Highly Endorsed
It can be scary to trust your financial situation, not to mention all your personal information, with a company you don’t know. It’s a good idea to read consumer reviews before choosing a tax debt relief service.
Alleviate Tax has an average of 4.75 out of 5 stars on the Better Business Bureau website, and a relatively low amount of consumer complaints. The company has been accredited since 2019.
Look for indications that your tax resolution firm will do what they say they will by reading customer testimonials online. Do they stay engaged with customers and respond to complaints promptly?
Alleviate Tax has also been ranked a leader in Customer Service and overall service by Best Company several years running.
Ideally, it’s best to get recommendations from family and friends when you’re seeking service providers in any industry. But it can be difficult to talk about your unpaid tax debt, and others may not want to share their experiences, either. You can trust online reviews as “friends you haven’t met yet” to offer guidance during this challenging financial time.
There When You Need Them
Some people prefer to connect via phone, while others prefer email or even social media channels. Whatever you need, Alleviate Tax is there. Our team is waiting to talk to you at 888-859-8291 from Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM PST, or via email, Facebook Messenger, or LinkedIn.
Expect fast, friendly responses. We can answer your tax resolution questions or direct you to the right expert in our organization who can.
Proven Processes in Place
Alleviate Tax has a proven process that begins with a free consultation to determine your tax issue and find out if we can help you with proven tax debt relief tactics.
In the enrollment phase, a tax professional will investigate your situation by reviewing your tax transcripts and determine your eligibility options for tax debt relief. Programs you might qualify for include:
- Innocent spouse relief
- Offer in compromise
- Installment agreement
- Tax Lien and Levy Releases
Finally, you will enter the active resolution phase, where we help you ensure all your tax filings are up-to-date. Our tax professionals help you with penalty abatement and other measures to help lower your tax bill. This stage could take between two to 10 months depending on the tax relief arrangement.
Once your tax debt has been resolved or you are making regular payments on an installment agreement, we consider your tax case to be in compliance. You can relax knowing you won’t face further collections action, as long as you continue to make payments on time.
Employ a Variety of Tax Professionals
When you’re evaluating tax resolution services, make sure to find one that employs a variety of tax practitioners to assist with your unique needs.
You may need tax representation during an IRS audit, a certified public accountant to help you get up to date on tax filings for your business, or a certified tax representation consultant who has taken tax resolution training to help solve tax problems.
A certified tax resolution specialist holds a license from the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, and may have a background in law or accounting.
Alleviate Tax has a team of more than 150 professionals here to help you with all your tax issues. We were rated one of the best places to work in 2022 and 2023 by TopWorkplaces.com. For two years in a row, 100% of Alleviate Tax employees have filled out third-party surveys saying they love their workplace environment.
We are also one of the fastest growing tax relief firms, with less than 35 employees at the start of 2023 to more than 150 in mid-2024.
We build a solid workplace culture where our employees care about our company, their co-workers, and, most importantly, our clients. And that leads to better customer service and more than $160 million in tax debt resolved since 2018.
Bottom Line
The tax resolution specialists at Alleviate Tax can help you resolve your tax issue so you can move on to long term financial freedom.
PPA / FAQs
Do tax resolution companies work?
Alleviate Tax has resolved more than $160 million in tax debt, including more than $37.2 million through IRS offer in compromise relief and more than $104.2 million in penalty abatements. Not every tax resolution company is trustworthy and reliable, so it’s important to choose one with a proven track record of happy customers.
What do tax resolution companies charge?
The rates tax resolution companies charge vary based on the type and amount of tax debt you have. Some may charge a flat fee, while others charge an hourly rate or a percentage of the amount of tax debt you owe to the IRS. Look for a tax debt relief company that offers transparent pricing and a satisfaction guarantee.
What is the tax resolution process?
Tax resolution processes vary depending on the tax relief firm, but you should find one that offers a free consultation. After that, if you decide to move forward, there should be an investigation phase where the company helps determine the tax relief option that’s best for you and a tax resolution phase, where the tax relief firm works with the IRS on your behalf to resolve your tax debt.
How do I find certified tax resolution specialists near me?
You can find a tax resolution specialist near you by reading company reviews, searching in social media groups, and asking friends or family. Many tax debt relief firms can work with clients all over the country via phone, chat, or email, so geographic proximity may not be the most important factor in choosing a tax resolution expert that can help solve your tax problems.
