Tax Relief Blog and Resources

You can't be blamed for misunderstanding the tax process; the more you get behind on your taxes, the deeper the hole that you must eventually climb out of. Usually, taxpayers file late because of unrelated life difficulties.  Whether it’s an unfortunate living situation, an unfortunate tax scam, family tragedy, or loss of employment, adding the IRS to your other problems can be disastrous. Tax debt relief companies like Tax Defense Partners can help dig you out of deep financial holes.  So what’s the difference between Tax Defense Partners and other top tax resolution companies like Optima Tax Relief or Tax Defense Network? You should probably know the following ten things: 1. Low Fees for Some People (minimum flat fee of $500) Price depends completely on the type of service you require. Generally speaking, the more time it takes to resolve a tax debt issue, the more money it will cost. However, customers should note that Tax Defense Partners charge flat rate fees starting at $500. Depending on the tax issue you have and the resolution process you need, you may be able to save quite a bit of money by signing up with Tax Defense Partners. Ask for a free consultation from each of the top tax resolution companies to compare pricing, expertise, and services. 2. Full Representation Before the IRS The advantage of fully trained, accredited, and certified employees is that they can fully represent you before the IRS. If you go with a company that doesn’t employ enrolled agents or tax attorneys, you may always have to be present for negotiations with the IRS.  Enrolled agents are authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers. Tax resolution companies should always employ enrolled agents and/or tax attorneys. 3. No Information on Refunds Success isn’t guaranteed when it comes to companies that handle complex tax problems, like wage garnishment, tax lien issues, tax scams, unfiled tax returns, and bank levies  — that’s why it’s so important to ensure your tax resolution company is staffed with the most knowledgeable debt professionals possible.  Because Tax Defense Partners can make few guarantees, it would be nice if the company provided a refund or money-back guarantee in the case of failure to handle your IRS woes. Unfortunately, Tax Defense Partners doesn’t advertise any refund policy on its site. 4. Certified and Trained Tax Professionals Every tax professional at Tax Defense Partners has been certified by the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS). The ASTPS trains professionals to specialize in tax services. The certification would mean that the employees at the company are all experts in their field.   Though a certification from ASTPS isn’t required for companies to help with taxes, it is a nice reassurance that the company can handle any possible problem with your taxes. 5. Positive Customer Reviews Many positive customer reviews thank individual enrolled agents and tax attorneys by name. Some customers relate that employees at Tax Defense Partners were professional and courteous to their individual needs and problems.  One negative customer review illustrated a less-than-ideal experience with the company, but then later recalled that Tax Defense Partners went to lengths to resolve previous customer issues.  Other positive things said about Tax Defense Partners include the following: Easy to reach Responsive Answer every question Save you money on IRS payment plan Knowledge, patience, respectful attitude It’s important to know what customers are saying about Tax Defense Partners and its customer service. Take advantage of the perspective gained from both positive and negative customer reviews. 6. Negative Customer Reviews The majority of Tax Defense Partners’ negative reviews are complaints about high fees. One reviewer suggested that the company does not encrypt sensitive information sent over the internet.  One negative customer review suggested that the company is quick to go back on its word once payment is made.  Other negative reviews mention the following:  Drawn out process Tedious process Misleading service ads Poor communication 7. Wide Variety of Services You should expect tax resolution companies to tackle cases requiring a transcript analysis, unfiled tax returns, and installment agreements. But not all companies have the expertise to deal with the breadth of services that Tax Defense Partners handles. The company also handles simpler problems as well, so if you need tax preparers or audit defense, Tax Defense Partners can handle it.   The company has the expertise to adequately handle the following tax problems:  Unfiled tax returns Transcript analysis Offer in compromise Wage garnishment Tax Preparation Audit Defense Bank levy Tax liens Payroll tax debt relief Installment agreement Foreign bank account reporting Audit representation PAbatementatement Collection status expiration date Full representation Innocent spouse relief Currently not collectible (CNC status) Whether you need help preparing tax returns for next year's tax season or simply want a qualified tax preparer, Tax Defense Partners can likely provide the service you need. 8. $10,000 Minimum Debt Requirement Tax debt relief companies generally have a minimum tax debt requirement. There are cases where a taxpayer owes just a few thousand dollars and can still save money through tax resolution services; however, in such cases, the tax resolution company does not usually stand to profit as much as they would when helping customers with higher tax debts.  Tax Defense Partners has a minimum debt requirement of $10,000, which is just about average in the industry. Some tax relief services, like Tax Defense Network, have minimum debt requirements of $7,500 and even $5,000. Alternatively, other companies have minimum tax debt requirements of up to $20,000.  9. Highly Accredited and Featured The company is accredited by the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS), and employs IRS certified Enrolled Agents. Accreditation organizations help regulate the industry, ensuring that taxpayers aren't being tricked out of their money by less-than-reputable tax services. It is absolutely vital that your tax relief company be accredited by at least one of the five main accreditation and certification organizations: American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) American Bar Association (ABA) American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) Additionally, Tax Defense Partners has been featured on Forbes, The Rush Limbaugh Program, and The Sean Hannity Show. 10. Exceptional Success Stories Although business success stories from customers are usually exceptions, some of the success stories at Tax Defense Partners are astonishing. The company claims to have reduced the tax debt of one customer, with debt from a failed business, from $6,878,404 to $0.  According to the story on TDP’s site, the customer had accumulated over $6 million in tax debt resulting from a failed business enterprise. TDP worked with the client to make an Offer in Compromise with the IRS.  Another customer was able to reduce tax debt from $212,555 to $2,400. Potential customers should view such stories with skepticism, as companies usually advertise only their most successful cases. While such stories can help you understand the potential of certain tax relief companies, you should also research negative stories and experiences in order to see the big picture.  Whether or not you decide to go with Tax Defense Partners, make sure you compare its services to the tax relief services of the best tax relief companies in the industry.