GSA Taxpayer Advocates
Is This Your Business?Author: Kaitlyn Short
GSA Taxpayer Advocates started in 2002 and is a boutique tax company that provides aggressive, experienced representation against the IRS and state tax agencies. Customers come to GSA for assistance on collection and audit matters. The company's main clients include individuals and businesses struggling with income, sales tax, payroll, and business debt.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Tax Services
- Four-Step Process
- Highly Experienced Staff
Tax Services
GSA specializes in resolving tax controversies, and disputes of federal, state, and local issues. The company assists taxpayers nationwide in cases involving businesses or individuals with past due income, business, payroll and sales tax. Customers come to GSA for help stopping bank levies and wage garnishments, to secure relief from federal and tax liens, and to dispute thousands of dollars in tax liability accrued penalties. The company also helps spouses prove their innocence with tax liability. As a whole, GSA offers the following tax services:
- IRS Audit
- Federal Tax Liens and Levies
- IRS Summons/OSC Hearing
- Offers in Compromise
- Installment Agreement
- IRS Penalty Abatements
- Innocent Spouse Relief
- Identify Theft Investigation
- Statutory Notice of Deficiency
- Collection Due Process Hearings/Appeals
- State and Local Tax
- Tax Return Preparation
- Bankruptcy
- Tax Litigation
- Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts
Four-Step Process
GSA uses a four-step process to help clients reach tax debt resolution. 1. Free Consultation: Customers can enjoy a free consultation with an experienced tax advocate. The purpose of the call is to evaluate the client's unique financial situation, and discuss the best available options for resolving their conflict. 2. IRS Compliance: Clients give GSA their individual or business records on file with the IRS, assuring their legal compliance. GSA then takes over all IRS communication on behalf of the client, stopping all IRS calls, letters and visits. 3. Asset Protection: GSA clients can rest assured that their assets are protected from future seizure. Each client's house, car, bank account, and income will not be taken away without exercising constitutional due process rights. The company also works to stop ongoing wage or bank levies. 4. Tax Resolution: If the client qualifies, GSA will work to settle and resolve the liabilities. Tax professionals will analyze the client's unique financial situation, and negotiate the best solution for the problem debt.
Highly Experienced Staff
GSA is made up of a group of tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs. The staff is well versed in several different tax services, and provides personalized services to clients. There are also accounting specialists on GSA's team that specialize in tax audits, tax return preparation, and tax planning. Some of the attorneys on the team gained experience working for the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, the California Department of Justice, and by litigating civil disputes in state courts. Additionally, several of the attorneys have a degree of Master of Laws in Taxation (LLM)-the highest tax law academic degree.
The Bad
- Website Lacks Information
- No Money-Back Guarantee
- Lack of Memberships
- No Contact Information
Website Lacks Information
GSA's website lacks a few key bits of information potential clients may want to know. The company makes no mention of its minimum debt amount requirement, and does not explain if services are available in all 50 states. It is also unclear whether or not the company offers back-tax services. Additionally, GSA does not explain pricing upfront, and does not provide a list of service pricing over the phone during the initial consultation. The company claims to charge a flat-rate for various cases, but that rate can easily change based on a case's situation. Reasons for the price changing include the level of case complication, and how much enrolled debt is owed. GSA's website does not offer any educational resources, or helpful calculators or tools.
No Money-Back Guarantee
Many top companies in the industry offer a money-back guarantee for unsatisfied customers. GSA makes no mention of a satisfaction or money-back guarantee for tax services.
Lack of Memberships
The company lacks accreditations, and is not a member of key professional associations in the industry, including: the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS), the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), and the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA). However, GSA does utilize a team of tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents.
No Contact Information
GSA's website offers a phone number, but does not have an email address, a physical mailing address, or business hours listed for potential clients. The website does not offer a "contact" page or live chat option.
The Bottom Line
GSA Taxpayer Advocates offers several tax relief services, and specializes in aggressive, experienced representation against the IRS and state tax agencies. Customers work with a highly experienced team of CPAs, tax attorneys, and enrolled agents to resolve tax problems. GSA works with a four-step process to resolve tax debt, including free consultation, IRS compliance, asset protection, and tax resolution. The company lacks membership with key professional associations in the industry, and does not explain pricing or fee information. Customers can contact the company by phone, but GSA does not offer a physical mailing address, or email address. Services are not backed by a satisfaction guarantee. When looking into tax relief services, we recommend going with a more accredited and transparent company.
