The top tax relief companies of July 2024.

Escaping tax debt is challenging: Interest and penalties start accumulating right after Tax Day, and the IRS may eventually seize your wages, take your property, and cancel your passport.

Tax relief companies can collaborate with the IRS or your state revenue department to alleviate your tax debt, establish installment plans, and halt garnishments and liens.

While the Federal Trade Commission advises taxpayers to attempt to negotiate a payment plan with the IRS independently, if you're facing tax debt and require assistance in finding a resolution, we have compiled a list of the top tax relief companies based on their services, customer reviews, fees, and other criteria. (For further information on our methodology, please refer to our detailed explanation.)

Best for affordability

What is the cost of Community Tax's initial consultation and investigation phase?

The company based in Florida has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and its reviews average 4.35 out of five stars. It states that it has assisted over 100,000 clients in resolving more than $800 million in tax debt.

The Community Tax subscription service provides tax planning, filing assistance, identity theft resolution, and access to CPAs and attorneys, with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Best for customer service

This is for whom? Since 1967, Precision Tax Relief has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, with BBB reviews averaging a near-perfect 4.87 out of 5 stars. Customers can communicate with a tax expert through phone, text, or live online chat.

Precision Tax has a 94% success rate with offer-in-compromise agreements, helping clients settle their tax bills for less than the owed amount. They have resolved over $58 million in tax liability and offer a free consultation and flat-rate quote for all tax resolution services. Additionally, they provide a 30-day money-back guarantee for added peace of mind.

Best for in-person assistance

If you require face-to-face assistance, Tax Defense Network has offices in 32 states and Spanish-speaking support staff, CPAs, and tax attorneys in most locations.

The Better Business Bureau has given the company an A+ rating, and its 700 reviews have an average of 4.28 out of five stars. The company boasts that its experts have helped clients resolve over $13 billion in tax debt.

Tax Defense Network specializes in both state and federal tax representation and provides a range of services that not all companies offer. Their payment plans begin at $99 per month, and they offer a three-day money-back guarantee.

Best for freelancers and gig workers

What group does Instant Tax Solutions specialize in assisting with tax relief?

The company based in Idaho has an A+ rating from the BBB and its reviews average 4.64 stars out of 5.

Instant Tax Solutions provides relief for business and payroll taxes, as well as offers in compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatements, and innocent spouse relief.

Best for guarantee

What is Alleviate Tax Relief guaranteeing? It promises to beat any other tax relief company's price quote, and it also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which is the longest we've seen. Despite not having a grade from the Better Business Bureau, Alleviate's reviews average 4.71 out of five stars.

The company has resolved over $400 million in tax debt and provides services for both state and federal taxes across all 50 states.

Best for multiple debts

CuraDebt can assist clients with credit card debt, medical bills, and other unsecured debt, making it a suitable choice if you have consumer debt in addition to your tax liability.

CuraDebt is a top pick for debt settlement due to its ability to handle both tax debt and unsecured consumer debt.

Shop for the best debt relief company

Community Tax

Community Tax is an approved IRS Community Education Provider.

Operates inEvery state but Minnesota and North Dakota

Minimum tax debt$7,500

BBB rating and accreditationAccredited, A+

BBB customer review ratings4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

In business since2010

Precision Tax Relief

Precision Tax Relief is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the Association of International Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association for Tax Professionals.

Operates in all 50 states but may not be able to assist with all state tax issues.

Minimum tax debt$10,000

The Better Business Bureau has given an A+ rating and accreditation to the company, and it has won the 2023 Torch Award for Ethics.

BBB customer review ratings4.87 out of 5 stars (68 reviews)

In business since1967

Tax Defense Network

The National Association of Tax Professionals, the American Institute of CPAs, and the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers are all organizations that Tax Defense Network is a member of.

Operates inAll 50 statesMinimum tax debt$5,000

BBB rating and accreditationAccredited, A+

BBB customer review ratings4.28 out of 5 stars (695 reviews)

In business since2007

Instant Tax Solutions

Instant Tax Solutions claims its clients have saved an average of $13,294.

Operates inAll 50 statesMinimum tax debt$10,000BBB rating and accreditationAccredited, A+

BBB customer review ratings4.64 out of 5 stars (695 reviews)

In business since2009

Alleviate Tax Relief

The American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, and the National Association of Tax Professionals have accredited Alleviate Tax Relief.

Operates inAll 50 states

Minimum tax debt$7,500

BBB rating and accreditation

Accredited, not rated

BBB customer review ratings

4.73 out of 5 stars (265 reviews)

In business since

2019

CuraDebt

CuraDebt is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the National Association of Tax Resolution Companies, the National Association of Tax Professionals, the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Operates in26 statesMinimum tax debt$5,000

BBB rating and accreditationNot accredited, A+

BBB customer review ratings4.6 out of 5 stars (10 reviews)

In business since2000

How do tax relief companies work?

Tax relief companies can help you reduce or eliminate your tax liability by working with the IRS or your state revenue office. They may apply for existing IRS hardship programs on your behalf, assist you with an installment agreement, penalty or interest abatement, or offer an compromise. Additionally, they can petition the government to lift a lien on your property or stop garnishing your wages.

Numerous settlement firms provide additional tax and accounting services, such as tax preparation, past return filing, and bookkeeping.

How much does tax relief cost?

The cost of tax relief services varies based on the magnitude of your debt, the nature of the aid required, and the complexity of your circumstances.

The initial investigation for most companies can cost between $300 and $500, followed by a resolution phase that may cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 or more.

Some companies provide a limited money-back guarantee, while others charge a flat fee or have hourly or monthly rates.

Are tax relief companies legit?

Debt relief companies, including tax relief companies, have legitimate options but also come with the risk of scams and predatory practices.

Consumers should steer clear of any tax relief company advised by the Federal Trade Commission.

Contacts you unsolicitedly
Requires payment in advance
Promises a specific outcome
Claims you're eligible for a special IRS tax relief program

Be cautious when evaluating tax or debt relief companies, as not all of them are accredited by the Better Business Bureau or are members of professional organizations such as the American Institute of CPAs, the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers, or the National Association of Tax Professionals.

Is using a tax relief company worth it?

Collaborating with a tax relief company can effectively address your tax issues, but if your debt is not substantial, the fees may consume any benefits.

While you can contact the IRS on your own for free, tax settlement companies may have more expertise in navigating the system.

If you've struggled to work with the IRS or feel overwhelmed by the process, a paid tax settlement plan may be beneficial, especially if you owe more than $10,000, which is the IRS' cutoff for guaranteed installment agreements.

Why trust CNBC Select?

Our mission at CNBC Select is to deliver top-notch service journalism and in-depth consumer advice to our readers, enabling them to make well-informed decisions when it comes to their finances. Each tax relief review we publish is the result of thorough reporting by our team of expert writers and editors, who possess extensive knowledge of debt relief products. At CNBC Select, we maintain the highest journalistic standards and ethics, and we earn a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links. However, our content is created independently, without any input from our commercial team or external third parties. To learn more about our methodology and how we select the best tax relief companies, please refer to our website.

Our methodology

Over a dozen U.S. debt relief companies were analyzed by CNBC Select to determine the best options.

We prioritized the following features when evaluating the top debt relief companies.

To obtain Better Business Bureau accreditation, companies must adhere to standards for transparency, honest advertising, trustworthiness, responsiveness, and privacy, among other requirements.
We evaluated customer satisfaction by examining ratings and the number of reviews submitted on the BBB website.
We evaluated the length of time a debt relief company has been in business when making our decision.
We prioritized states with more widely available service when considering the number of states where the service is available.
We evaluated whether companies focused solely on federal tax debt or if they also dealt with state tax debt.

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