If you’re in search of back tax assistance services, you can choose from among many companies that provide the services. Optima Tax Relief is the most popular, but how does it compare to the other options available like ALG Tax, Instant Tax, Tax Defense Network & Tax Defense Partners?
Although many legitimate back tax assistance companies exist, there are many scams and fraudulent companies making false promises to desperate consumers. Before choosing a back tax assistance company, do your research so that you can be sure you’re getting access to the professionals you need.
Optima Tax Relief is one of the most popular back tax assistance options available. It offers three different types of tax professionals to help those with $10,000 or more in back taxes. This company will work on your behalf with the IRS, giving you comprehensive expertise when dealing with back taxes.
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Whether you have federal or state tax problems, Optima Tax Relief works to protect you from liens on your property or credit or to relieve you of them if they’ve already taken effect.
Negotiating with the IRS is one of the most challenging aspects of dealing with back taxes, but with Optima Tax Relief, you’ll have the benefit of experts negotiating on your behalf. This service may be able to negotiate for settlements such as an offer in compromise, which can lower the total amount owed, and arrange installment agreements to break up your tax burden into more manageable payments.
If your spouse incurred a significant amount of back taxes, Optima Tax Relief can also help with Innocent Spouse Relief, which can relieve you of the burden and responsibility if you were unaware of the tax problem. You may also be eligible for an uncollectible status, which means that the IRS can’t collect on your back taxes because of your current financial situation.
Three types of tax professionals can legally represent you to the IRS:
All three of these professionals are on Optima Tax Relief’s team. You can find a professional with the experience and knowledge necessary to help with your particular situation. These tax professionals use two processes to approach back tax assistance process.
Another major benefit of Optima Tax Relief is that the company is reliable. Optima Tax Relief follows up on inquiries, communicates professionally, and is competent in both customer and back tax assistance services. Representatives are knowledgeable, thorough, and consistent, regardless of what time of day, week, or year you contact them.
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Pros of Optima Tax Relief
Cons of Optima Tax Relief
Optima Tax Relief has many competitors, however. There are many companies who offer similar services to Optima – we dive into a few of them below. When searching for a back tax assistance company, it’s important to do your research and find a company that is right for your situation. Since most companies may seem similar, make sure you take the time to ask each firm about costs, time to resolution and what they specialize in.
Instant Tax Solutions, based in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is an excellent choice in back tax assistance services. The company’s transparency stands out, as they showcase the names and faces of their tax specialist on the home page of their website. Like Optima Tax Relief, Instant Tax Solutions is accredited with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
It also boasts positive customer reviews and high ratings on sites like TrustPilot, TrustLink, and iVouch. The company promises an easy, four-step assistance and resolution process and shares how much time each step should take. Instant Tax Solutions employs tax attorneys, enrolled agencies, and CPAs, as well as tax consultants. The company offers a 30-day, no questions asked, money back guarantee.
Tax Defense Partners is a company that offers knowledgeable and thorough tax professionals to help with various types of back taxes. The company has responsive, knowledgeable representatives, although consumer reviews show it doesn’t follow up with initial consultations.
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The company charges a flat rate, rather than a sliding scale based on the time required to resolve your case. That means you could pay more than you should for their service, depending on the complexity of your case. At this time, Tax Defense Partners is being reviewed by the Better Business Bureau and shows no accreditation.
The Tax Defense Network is another popular back tax assistance option. This company offers flexible payment options, guidance for both federal and state tax issues, and experienced tax professionals. Like Optima Tax Relief, Tax Defense Network employs CPAs, IRS Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys, although their tax attorneys may not have specialized degrees in tax law or be licensed in your specific state.
Although the representatives for the Tax Defense Network are professional and knowledgeable, reviews say they fail to follow up on initial consultations, and they require sensitive information to answer questions. The company has an A+ Better Business rating, but not as many positive reviews as Optima Tax Relief.
Based in East Lansing, Michigan, ALG Tax is a back tax assistance service with high-quality support and capable representatives. ALG Tax can assist with federal taxes for businesses and individuals but may only be able to help with state taxes if you are located in Michigan. The company employs three types of tax professionals to negotiate with the IRS on your behalf:
You don’t need a minimum back taxes to use ALG Tax services, but it’s wise to keep in mind that since the company charges a flat fee, you may be better served by choosing another option. Like Optima Tax Relief, ALG Tax is accredited with an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau, but it has not been in business as long as Optima and has no customer reviews on the BBB website.
Optima Tax Relief offers the best combination of reliability, professionalism, cost, and capabilities. Regardless of which back tax assistance service you choose, however, be sure to do your research to ensure you’re working with a company that provides you with experienced professionals and reliable service.
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Before you select a back tax assistance company like Optima Tax Relief, it is important to understand what tax relief companies can and can’t do. When the IRS informs you that you owe taxes, the situation can be quite stressful, especially if you owe a significant amount of money. Many people seek help from back tax assistance services through which experienced professionals present your case to the IRS and negotiate on your behalf.
With many options for back tax assistance companies available, you may have a difficult time determining which ones are legitimate, reliable, safe, and affordable. While the specific back tax assistance company you choose will be based on your own research and impressions, you should consider the following general guidelines:
First, you want to be sure that any back tax assistance company you choose is legitimate. Generally, a legitimate back tax assistance company will have tax attorneys, certified public agents, or enrolled agents to represent you before the IRS. Retaining a “tax professional” isn’t enough, since only tax attorneys, certified public agents, or enrolled agents may legally represent clients to the IRS and speak on their behalf.
Back tax assistance companies with multiple types of tax representatives are more beneficial as well. Different representatives have different specialties or areas of expertise. Tax attorneys have a thorough understanding of tax laws, certified public agents have an in-depth understanding of the financial aspects of tax laws, and enrolled agents are comfortable and experienced with the logistics of working with the IRS. Choosing a company with multiple types of representatives gives you the best chance of getting the results and outcome you’re seeking. Take Optima Tax Relief – their team of EAs, tax attorneys and CPAs are able to help with a wider range of tax issues than a company like Total Tax that does not employ tax lawyers.
Tax back tax assistance companies that have been in business longer are more likely to be legitimate. Scams exist, of course, but it’s difficult to stay in business for years if you’re not providing a valid service to clients. A company that has been in business for a while is clearly capable enough to continue signing clients looking for back tax assistance. It’s better to choose an established company for the negotiation experience as well, a decision which will work to your benefit. Tax Defense Network, for example, has 12 years of experience negotiating with the IRS so you are much more likely to reach favorable settlement than with a newer company.
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Dealing with back taxes is a big deal, and you’ll want a back tax assistance company that makes you feel comfortable and secure. Many companies offer a free consultation, or they will at least answer some questions and provide information over the phone.
During this consultation, pay attention to the service you receive. Are the representatives knowledgeable? Is the information they provide thorough? Are they taking the time necessary to answer your questions, or are they rushing you off the phone? Tax Defense Partners has received several complaints of not following up on initial consultations, which should be a cause for concern when dealing with pressing IRS issues.
You should also pay attention to whether the representatives need more information from you to answer simple, straightforward questions. For general inquiries, you shouldn’t need to provide them with much personal information. A knowledgeable representative should also present you with multiple options and solutions for your back tax issues.
Tax back tax assistance is a stressful and expensive process, and you want to know that the company you choose has friendly, helpful representatives who will be there when you need help the most. You don’t want a representative causing you more stress than you already have.
Whether through phone calls or email, check the responsiveness of your potential company and see if it’s quick to follow up with you. Its responsiveness will let you know that the company will most likely be able to help if you encounter any problems. You should also pay attention to the professionalism of the representatives and their service standards. Ideally, you want a company that will give you the same level of service no matter what time of day you call and what representative you encounter.
Receiving a notice from the IRS is understandably stressful, but you don’t want to ignore it. Whether you opt to hire a back tax assistance company or deal with the IRS yourself, taking some action is better than doing nothing and having the IRS place liens on your assets.
The advantage of a back tax assistance company, however, is that it will work upfront with the IRS to both investigate your situation and determine what programs you’re eligible for. Keep in mind that some companies charge a separate fee for this investigation period, while some include it in a flat rate. Be sure you know what to expect with a price quote.
You can also rely on a back tax assistance company to handle the negotiations for you, usually with better results. The company will help with payroll taxes, back taxes, tax liens, tax levies, wage garnishment, asset seizure, and other types of unpaid taxes or related issues.
Keep in mind that legitimate back tax assistance services can help with all these tax issues, but they can’t offer you a guarantee. However, they will work hard to find the type of assistance that works best for your situation.
For example, you may be eligible for an offer in compromise, which involves settling for a lesser amount than the total amount you owe. An offer in compromise is contingent upon proving that you’re unable to pay the total amount you owe. If you can’t prove your inability to pay, you may end up with an installment arrangement, which means you’ll pay off your total back taxes over time in smaller payments.
Innocent spouse relief is another option for certain cases, which means that your spouse may have filed taxes incorrectly or illegally. In this case, you will need to be proven innocent, but once you have done so, you will not be held responsible for your spouse’s actions.
Finally, your back tax assistance company should be working to put your account into Currently Not Collectible status, which means that you can’t pay your back taxes because of financial hardships. The company should also be working for interest and penalty abatements and garnishment release. This work is done to prevent your interest payments and IRS penalties from adding up and to help you regain control of your accounts and assets.
Regardless of which situation applies to your back taxes, a good back tax assistance company will be doing all it can to find programs you qualify for, relieve you of your back taxes, and find you the best option for your needs. Depending on your specific situation, you may be able to take on the IRS yourself, but that approach could leave you with an arrangement that isn’t ideal. A back tax assistance company has the benefit of years of education and experience in negotiations with the IRS. As a result, you have the best possible chance of getting assistance quickly and with minimal hassle.
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