[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/tax-relief\/best-tax-relief-companies\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/tax-relief\/best-tax-relief-companies\/","headline":"Best Tax Relief Services: Top 5 Tax Debt Resolution Companies of 2025","name":"Best Tax Relief Services: Top 5 Tax Debt Resolution Companies of 2025","description":"When it comes to obtaining tax relief options such as an offer in compromise,...","datePublished":"2021-10-04","dateModified":"2025-01-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/#Person","name":"Logan Allec, CPA","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Money Done Right","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","width":488,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Featured-Image-1900-x-460-4.jpg","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Featured-Image-1900-x-460-4.jpg","height":460,"width":1900},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/tax-relief\/best-tax-relief-companies\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk","name":"Is Optima Tax Relief a Scam? Optima Tax Relief Review by a CPA","description":"Visit https:\/\/choicetaxrelief.com\/free-tax-relief-consultation\/ to book your FREE tax relief consultation!\n\nIs Optima Tax Relief a scam? As the owner of a tax relief company, I've been asked this question many times, and I want to publicly answer it today. Yes, Optima Tax Relief has many poor reviews as well as many complaints leveled against it online, but \u2014 even if these poor reviews and complaints are true (they could of course be completely made up) \u2014 would that still make Optima Tax Relief a scam? Hear my answer in today's video!\n\nTable of Contents:\n0:00 Is Optima Tax Relief a Scam?\n1:34 Poor Optima Tax Relief Reviews\n2:37 What Is a Scam?\n3:28 Optima Tax Relief Complaints (Sales)\n5:50 Optima Tax Relief Complaints (Service)\n7:31 Even If These Complaints Are True, Does That Make Optima Tax Relief a Scam?\n\n#taxrelief #taxdebt #taxresolution","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/xa-xDVKBZJk\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/xa-xDVKBZJk\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/xa-xDVKBZJk\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/xa-xDVKBZJk\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/xa-xDVKBZJk\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2023-08-09T20:10:43+00:00","duration":"PT11M36S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xa-xDVKBZJk","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQ9WUXlSuLlbi5BLkgtEUEA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQ9WUXlSuLlbi5BLkgtEUEA","name":"Logan Allec","description":"Logan Allec is a CPA and the founder of Choice Tax Relief, which specializes in helping people with their IRS and state tax debt.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/43_VKqrbO06RGMcxfdQbDXosrkVRq1yf5QgSQEiR4ILUGWV9fJtTh0o2ftYMYqVo6PwnEOPRdg=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":16476}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xa-xDVKBZJk#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":201}]},"about":["Tax Relief"],"wordCount":4188,"keywords":["schema"],"articleBody":"When it comes to obtaining tax relief options such as an offer in compromise, you want the best tax professionals on your side.Unfortunately, there are a lot of bad tax relief companies out there — companies that are just out to take people’s money without actually working to resolve their case with their IRS and\/or state tax authority.In fact, the Federal Trade Commission has a dedicated webpage calling many of these companies “fraudsters,” pointing out that oftentimes these companies don’t even submit any paperwork to the IRS.So as a CPA, I decided to put the record straight and objectively evaluate the major tax relief companies on the market today.Also, I own my own tax relief company called Choice Tax Relief.\u00a0 Having reviewed so many other tax relief companies and learning the good and the bad, I really do think it’s the best, and I’ve included it as #1 in the list below…just so you know.Have you had problems with a tax relief company?If you’ve had trouble with a tax relief company, be sure to file Form 14157, Return Preparer Complaint, with the IRS.Be sure to describe exactly what the tax relief company you worked with did (or didn’t do).\u00a0 Be sure to mention if the company:Guaranteed that your offer in compromise would be accepted (this is impossible to guarantee)Told you that your case would take a relatively short amount of time to process but it actually took a lot longerMisrepresented your financial situation in documents submitted to the IRSIf the IRS finds merit in your complaint, it may end up with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate the potentially fraudulent tax relief company.Table of ContentsToggleHow I Chose the Best Tax Relief CompaniesThe 5 Best Tax Relief Companies of 2025Best Tax Relief Companies (List)1. Choice Tax Relief2. Precision Tax Relief3. Community Tax4. Tax Hardship Center5. Tax Defense NetworkWhat About Optima Tax Relief?Tax Relief GuideTax Relief Companies FAQsHow I Chose the Best Tax Relief CompaniesHaving done tax relief for clients myself, I know what to look for when evaluating tax relief companies.\u00a0 Here are my top three indicators.1. Doesn’t bait and switchOne problem that I see over and over again in tax relief company reviews is that the company will “sell” the client on securing an offer in compromise for them — typically charging thousands of dollars upfront for this service — only to secure an installment agreement for them or having them placed in currently not collectible status.Now, don’t get me wrong; sometimes, the best option for a taxpayer is an installment agreement or being placed in currently not collectible status.And on the initial intake call, someone who knows what they’re doing should be able to size up pretty quickly what may or may not be possible for the taxpayer.So when I see multiple clients complaining online that their tax relief company told them they could get them an offer in compromise but then all they got them was an installment agreement, that tells me that either:The tax relief company is outright deceptive, telling leads they qualify for an offer in compromise when they don’t with the goal of extracting money from them, orThe tax relief company has a severe disconnect between its sales team and its tax professionals.\u00a0 Oftentimes with large tax relief companies, the person closing the lead is a salesperson, not a tax professional.\u00a0 And\u00a0 if the salesperson works on commission (or partial commission), they may have an incentive to close as many deals as possible, which means promising the moon as often as possible.\u00a0 This is a recipe for a dissatisfied client because while the sales team may claim the company can secure an offer in compromise for the client, the tax professional that handles the case will quickly see that this is not possible, leaving the client with unmet expectations.2. Acts quickly on client filesAnother common complaint about tax relief companies is that they collect the initial payment from clients, only to sit on their file for months without any action.This is obviously an unacceptable practice given that the IRS will continue to take collection actions throughout this time, so this was another thing I looked at when evaluating tax relief companies.3. Offers a guaranteeThe last major thing I look at with tax relief companies is how good their money-back guarantee is (if they even have one at all).The 5 Best Tax Relief Companies of 2025Best Overall (I Own It): Choice Tax ReliefBest Large Firm: Precision Tax ReliefBest For Tax Preparation: Community TaxBest For Low Income: Tax Hardship CenterBest For Spanish Speakers: Tax Defense NetworkBest Tax Relief Companies (List)If you or someone you know has experience — good or bad — with any of these tax relief companies, please let me know in the comment section of this blog post..btn.btn-blue.dift:hover, .btn.btn-default.dift:hover {color: #4db848;border-color: #4db848;background: #fff !important;}\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCompany\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOnline Complaints\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinimum Tax Debt\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign Up\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChoice Tax Relief(Yes, I Own It!)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNone that I could find$10,00030-day money-back guarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrecision Tax Relief\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNone that I could findNone30-day money-back guarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTax Defense Network\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVery few reviews for this company, but one mentioned something of a “bait and switch” as a result of an aggressive salesperson.$5,000None\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity Tax\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSome customers complain of bait-and-switch tactics.I could not find any mention of a guarantee on the website.$7,500\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTax Hardship Center\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNone that I could findNoneNone\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVisit\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1. Choice Tax Relief\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChoice Tax Relief\t\t\t\tBasics: Choice Tax Relief provides a variety of federal and state tax relief services to individuals owing $10,000 or more in back taxes.Pros: The company is BBB-accredited, and we couldn't find any bad reviews.  It seems to take good care of its clients.Cons: Choice Tax Relief is the youngest company on this list.  While it may provide an excellent customer experience now in 2022, time will tell if its current level of service will continue as it grows.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonesty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t9\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponsiveness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccessibility\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t10\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t8\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTransparency\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t8.5\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMINIMUM DEBT:$10,000LOCATION AVAILABILITY:All 50 U.S. StatesINITIAL FEE:YesYEAR FOUNDED:2022\t\t\t\tYes, I own Choice Tax Relief, and I think it’s the best tax relief company.(Who am I, by the way?\u00a0 I’m Logan Allec.\u00a0 I’ve been a CPA for over 12 years.\u00a0 I’m also a tax relief educator \u2014 check out my educational tax relief YouTube videos here.)So why do I think Choice Tax Relief is the best?\u00a0 Here’s why:I personally review every case that we work on.I obviously have a deep insight into the company and firmly believe that it checks all the boxes I described above in “How I Chose the Best Tax Relief Companies”.We have an A+ BBB rating.Our customer reviews speak for themselves.Our case management team is led by an individual who has been in the industry for over a decade, having worked at several different tax relief companies \u2014 she’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of what can happen when case management falls through the cracks.We don’t oversell, and we price our work fairly.\u00a0 Frankly, one of the biggest complaints I’ve seen about other tax relief companies is that they were oversold a particular tax relief service, such as an offer in compromise.We also have a strong commitment to education.\u00a0 On our blog, for instance, we provide some of the best information about tax relief on the web.You might think me including my own company in this list is cheesy and self-serving, and you’re probably right, but our happy customers don’t seem to care.2. Precision Tax Relief\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrecision Tax Relief\t\t\t\tBasics: Founded in 1967, Precision Tax Relief primarily helps individuals with their tax debts with the IRS.Pros: Unlike many tax relief companies, Precision does not charge an initial fee and operates under a flat-fee arrangement. In addition, Precision has been praised for its client service.Cons: The company does not have a clear refund policy, and its representation with state tax debt is limited.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonesty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t8\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponsiveness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t9\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccessibility\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t10\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTransparency\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t8\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMINIMUM DEBT:$10,000LOCATION AVAILABILITY:All 50 U.S. StatesINITIAL FEE:NoneYEAR fOUNDED:1967\t\t\t\tPrecision Tax Relief\u00a0 \u2014 headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho \u2014 claims to have settled over $58 million of tax debt for its clients and boasts a 94% offer in compromise success rate.If true, this means that Precision doesn’t oversell offers in compromise to folks who won’t qualify for them.What I Like (Pros)Owned by Tax Professionals: One thing I like about Precision Tax Relief is that its CEO Scott Gettis and its managing partner Gene Haag are both enrolled agents.\u00a0 At least on a surface level, this tells me that Precision Tax Relief is perhaps more about actually getting the work done rather than just marketing and running new clients’ credit cards.Established: It also claims to have been in business since 1967 — of course, the tax relief industry wasn’t exactly around in 1967, so I take this to mean that Precision has existed in some form (perhaps as a basic tax preparation office) since 1967.Transparency: On its website, Precision claims to be extremely transparent.\u00a0 It says, “Our experts don’t shy away from the truth.\u00a0 We tell you exactly what’s possible given your tax situation.”\u00a0 This is extremely important to me since one of my major complaints with the tax relief industry is that many companies will tell a lead upfront that they can secure an offer in compromise for them when in reality any true tax professional could tell that this is not possible.ASTPS Member: Precision Tax Relief is a member of the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS), an organization that I myself am a member of and trust.Now, whether or not Precision lives up to its claims is a different story, but as far as I could find in my research, customers seem satisfied.Unlike many other tax relief companies, I could not find any reviews stating that Precision engaged in a bait-and-switch or left clients hanging for months with unresolved tax issues.What I Don’t Like (Cons)No Audit Representation: In its FAQs, Precision states that it does not offer audit representation services but that it can help you resolve any tax debt caused by your audit.No State Tax Representation: Precision Tax does not handle state tax debt.3. Community Tax\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCommunity Tax\t\t\t\tBasics: Community Tax is a tax relief company founded in 2010 by two attorneys (who happen to be brothers) as well as enrolled agent.Pros: Community Tax fully discloses who is on its staff on its about page, and it does appear to have qualified professionals to work on clients' tax issues.  It has many apparently legitimate good reviews on sites like BBB.Cons: Some clients complain about miscommunications from Community Tax regarding important things like the pricing of their services as well as the timeline of when work will be completed.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonesty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7.5\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponsiveness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccessibility\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t9\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTransparency\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMINIMUM DEBT:$5,000STATES SERVICED:50AVERAGE PRICE:$3,000GUARANTEE:Yes, but terms not specified\t\t\t\tOur Review MethodologyCommunity Tax claims to take a three-step approach to tax relief:Step 1: Consultation \u2014 This step is essentially the free consultation offered by practically all tax relief companies in order to get leads to pay the upfront fee to become a client.Step 2: Investigation \u2014 This is where Community Tax submits Form 8821 to the IRS in order to gather information about your tax accounts.\u00a0 I imagine this is also when Community Tax determines the best approach to take to your situation, that is, whether to try for an offer in compromise, currently not collectible status, or a mere installment agreement.Step 3: Resolution \u2014This is where Community Tax actually fills out the appropriate paperwork with the IRS in order to resolve your tax issue.This all sounds well and good, but Community Tax has some apparent customers expressing their frustration with the company on Yelp:B.B. of Plano, TX claimed that Community Tax told him to pay $1,200 to the IRS that he did not actually owe.Belle L. of Chicago, IL claimed that Community Tax charged her $2,000 to get her into “deferred” status (I imagine she meant currently not collectible status), even though she was already in this status.Ivan M. of Belmont Cragin, IL claimed that Community Tax charged him $500 but did nothing else.What I Like (Pros)Good Reputation For a Large Company: Unfortunately, many large tax relief companies are plagued with a declining level of customer service; perhaps they have too many cases and too few case managers. However, as someone in the industry, I can say that while some smaller companies have a better reputation for customer service, Community Tax stands out among the “big dogs” in the industry.Excellent Blog: Community Tax’s tax blog is second to none when it comes to tax relief education.What I Don’t Like (Cons)Parent Company in Turmoil: On December 31, 2021, Canadian company NextPoint Financial, Inc. acquired Community Tax for $90 million in cash and stock. However, since then, NextPoint Financial has had a rocky corporate history, undergoing multiple changes in the C suite as well as entering into a restructuring agreement with its lenders.Few Certified Tax Professionals on Team Page: Unfortunately, Community Tax has only seven people on its team page, of which only three are enrolled agents, CPAs, or attorneys. This is a far cry from what its team page looked like\u00a0before the NextPoint acquisition; back then, its team page was full of certified tax professionals. Not so any more.4. Tax Hardship Center\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTax Hardship Center\t\t\t\tBasics: Founded in 2012, Tax Hardship Center helps clients and businesses resolve tax debts with the IRS and\/or state tax agencies.Pros: The company charges lower fees than competitors and has a relatively generous money-back guarantee policy.Cons: Several reviewers complained about the company\u2019s failure to return phone calls\/emails or take specific actions on their cases despite promising to do so.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonesty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponsiveness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t8\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccessibility\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTransparency\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMINIMUM DEBT:$7,500 to $10,000LOCATION AVAILABILITY:All 50 U.S. StatesINITIAL FEE:$495YEAR fOUNDED:2012\t\t\t\tTax Hardship Center is a smaller player in the tax relief field, but it appears to be popular with its customers.It has fewer reviews than other companies, the reviews it does have are mostly positive.Although Tax Hardship Center does not publish its fees on its website, Alice K. of Chicago, IL said that after calling around she felt that Tax Hardship Center cared and was reasonable priced.As a website owner, one thing that kind of struck me as odd was that Tax Hardship Center has a page on its site called “Tax Hardship Center Review”.Frankly, I would think that it would be fairly difficult for a company to do an objective review of itself, and I imagine Tax Hardship Center’s strategy here is to get this positive review (of itself!) to rank in search engines.5. Tax Defense Network\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTax Defense Network\t\t\t\tBasics: Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Tax Defense Network helps individuals with their tax debts with the IRS (and\/or state tax agency).Pros: The company appears to charge no initial fee and has a relatively minimum tax debt threshold for working with you.Cons: Several reviewers complained about the company\u2019s lack of responsiveness and expertise in handling their cases. The company also does not appear to have a refund\/money back guarantee.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHonesty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tResponsiveness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccessibility\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t10\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGuarantee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTransparency\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3\/10\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMINIMUM DEBT:Based on third-party sites, between $5,000 and $7,500LOCATION AVAILABILITY:All 50 U.S. StatesINITIAL FEE:NoneYEAR fOUNDED:2007\t\t\t\tTax Defense Network has a pretty slick website, but it’s short on details about itself.\u00a0 Its about page merely states that it’s a tax resolution firm that has saved clients billions in tax debt.One potential drawback of Tax Defense Network is that it is owned by MoneySolver, a national financial services company.\u00a0 Now, this may not be a bad thing at all, but personally I like it when tax resolution companies are owned by tax professionals whose names and professional credentials are on the line.This all said, Tax Defense Network is also a member of the ASTPS, which is a plus in my book.What About Optima Tax Relief?In the tax relief industry, Optima Tax Relief is the 800-pound gorilla in the room.Founded in 2011, Optima Tax Relief’s commercials are ubiquitous on many television and radio stations across the country, and it collects hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from its services each year.So why isn’t it on the list?Well, to be frank, Optima Tax Relief is not on the list because, in my opinion, it has simply become too large to offer top-notch service anymore. You can check out its Yelp page itself and hear more of my thoughts on Optima Tax Relief in our Optima Tax Relief Review as well as in my video below titled, “Is Optima Tax Relief a Scam?”Tax Relief GuideNegotiating with the IRS \u2014 and reaching an agreement with them \u2014 can be extremely confusing and time consuming, especially to everyday Americans who don’t have specialized training and knowledge about IRS practices and procedures.What Is Tax Relief?At the federal level, tax relief is, essentially, using the IRS’s own practices and procedures \u2014 found in the Internal Revenue Manual \u2014 in a taxpayer’s favor to allow them to either:pay less than they owe to the IRS,pay what they owe to the IRS over a longer period of time, orbothThere are state tax relief programs as well, and each state has its own rules about what it will and will not negotiate over when it comes to a taxpayer’s debt to the state.In fact, many taxpayers have found that obtaining tax relief from the IRS can be a bit easier than obtaining tax relief from the state.Do I Need to Hire a Tax Relief Company?No, you certainly don’t\u00a0need to hire a tax relief company.Tax relief companies are service providers.And the cold, hard truth is that apart from certain medical procedures, you could probably do\u00a0anything yourself that you could also pay a service provider for:You don’t\u00a0need to pay a restaurant $300 to buy ingredients and cook, plate, and bring a decent meal to you; you know full well you could go to the grocery store and cook the same dish.You don’t\u00a0need to pay a real estate brokerage $30,000 to list and sell your house; you could sell your house FSBO (“for sale by owner”).You don’t\u00a0need to pay a lawyer $300,000 to defend your company in an intellectual property infringement lawsuit; you could represent yourself.Of course, the difference is that\u00a0professionals who have cooked thousands of meals, sold hundreds of homes, and defended dozens of clients with similar fact patterns as yours will probably do it better than you would due to their education and experience.And on top of that, they will save you time because\u00a0they are the ones who are doing the work \u2014 not you!And it’s no different with tax relief companies; you don’t\u00a0need to pay a tax relief company to negotiate your tax debt with the IRS, but a professional will\u00a0probably do a better job than you could do on your own and will of course save you the hassle of doing it yourself.How Do Tax Relief Companies Work?Tax relief companies work to resolve your tax debt with the IRS in a manner that’s beneficial to you and agreeable to the IRS.Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be able to reduce your tax debt down to a fraction of what you owe \u2014 or that they will be able to reduce your tax debt at all.(By the way, if you reach out to a tax debt company that\u00a0does come out selling you on getting “pennies-on-the-dollar” tax relief\u00a0before they’ve thoroughly reviewed your case and current financial situation, run!\u00a0 These are the kinds of tax relief companies that have unfortunately cast a shadow over the entire industry.)At the end of the day, a good tax relief company will:Talk to you to understand your goals with respect to your tax debtThoroughly investigate your situation with the IRS, generally by communicating directly with the IRS Practitioner Priority Service telephone lineThoroughly investigate your current financial situationDetermine the best tax relief option for your debtDiscuss this option with youVigorously pursue this optionRemember, much of tax relief is a negotiation, and while tax relief companies can’t really guarantee anything, they can \u2014 if they’re good and reputable \u2014 put you in a better position with the IRS or your state taxing authority than the one you’re in right now.Typical Tax ProblemsWhile tax relief companies assist their clients with a variety of tax problems, the problems listed below are the most common.Back Tax DebtProbably the most common tax problem that tax relief companies help their clients deal with is the negotiation of back tax debt with the IRS and state governments.Tax relief companies can use a variety of strategies to deal with their clients’ back tax debt, includingOffers in CompromiseCurrently Not Collectible StatusInstallment AgreementsPenalties and InterestIt’s not uncommon for penalties and interest to cause a long-time, noncompliant taxpayer to see their balance for a given tax year increase by over 50% due to penalties and interest.While interest is statutory and the IRS does not have the authority to forgive it, a good tax relief company can look into possible penalty abatement for any penalties that have accrued on your account.Note that if a penalty is abated, the interest on that penalty is abated as well.Unfiled Tax ReturnsSometimes people get behind on their tax filings \u2014 possibly for only a few years and possibly for a large number of years.What you may not know is that technically the IRS only requires taxpayers to get in compliance for the past\u00a0six filing years in order for them to entertain a negotiation regarding back tax debt.So if you haven’t filed returns for longer than a six-year period, it may not necessarily be in your best interest to file\u00a0all those years.A good tax relief company can determine which tax years it is in your best interest to file returns for, file those returns for you, and negotiate with the IRS on any back tax debt that arises from these filings.How Much Do Tax Relief Companies Cost?Tax relief companies vary in their prices, but a typical pricing structure is to first charge a smaller fee to investigate the client’s situation to see what tax relief programs they are eligible for and then charge a larger fee based on the tax relief program recommended by the tax relief company.For example, the cost of an investigation might be $500 for a relatively straightforward tax debt situation for someone owing $30,000 to the IRS.Then, in the course of the recommendation, the tax relief company may determine that the client isn’t a great offer in compromise candidate but does qualify for a partial-payment installment agreement.They may charge $2,500 or more for the partial-payment installment agreement placement.These are just examples; many tax relief companies tend to approximate their fees at around 10% of a client’s tax debt amount.Tax Relief OptionsIf you owe the IRS, you have several options available to you to deal with your tax debt.At the end of the day, the IRS would prefer that taxpayers get back in the tax system and is willing to make some concessions to them when they do so.Here are the major tax relief options available to Americans.Offer in CompromiseAn offer in compromise is a deal with the IRS to settle your tax debt for less than you owe.Installment AgreementAn installment agreement is an agreement with the IRS to pay back your tax debt over time rather than all at once.Currently Not Collectible StatusCurrently not collectible status is a special “hardship” status granted by the IRS to those who can demonstrate that they are experiencing severe financial hardship.While in currently not collectible status, you are not required to make any payments on your tax debt to the IRS, and the IRS’s ten-year statute of limitations on collection continues to run.Tax Relief Companies FAQsWhy do some tax relief companies only work with those who owe at least $10,000?Some tax relief companies only work with taxpayers who owe at least a certain amount of back taxes \u2014 such as $10,000 \u2014 because the cost of their services probably wouldn’t make sense for someone who owes less than that.\u00a0\u00a0"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Taxes","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Tax Relief","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/\/tax-relief\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Best Tax Relief Services: Top 5 Tax Debt Resolution Companies of 2025","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/taxes\/tax-relief\/best-tax-relief-companies\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]