What Should Happen when I Talk to a Tax Debt Relief Company?

Whether you call or a tax resolution company calls, how should you be treated when you contact a tax debt relief company?

This is a review of how you should be treated when you come into contact with a Tax Resolution Company.  This primer will help you evaluate who has the skill set, and the intent to help you fix your IRS back taxes.  If you have questions about this post, please reference:  BP102.

• If you know you need to take action, read my article “IF” you should hire IRS back tax help.  (You should not automatically.) Titled “Owe IRS back taxes? When, who, and how do I hire IRS back tax help?” before you do anything else.

As usual, If you like the tone of this writing, I would like to refer you to someone who meets irs back tax help criteria.  Please contact irs back tax help.  Before you email me, please click on and read “About irs back tax help.”

Some of this will sound a little obvious, but it’s written from countless stories of how people have been treated in the past. 

1.  Talking to the tax resolution company’s rep should remove your stress, not add to it. 

• If you feel that fear or pressure are being used to add urgency to your decision, hit the brakes. 

2.  The tax resolution company’s rep should be happy to send some general information to you before you talk to them.  This is especially true if the tax resolution company initiated contact.  This information should include the physical address of the company. 

3.  A tax resolution company should be happy to provide the name of your actual before you have a discussion with them.  You need to know who will represent you if you hire them.  Not all representatives are equally skilled, and there can be wide quality spreads even within the same company.   Will your rep be a licensed attorney, a CPA, or an Enrolled Agent?  Who can represent me if I owe IRS back taxes? 

• If they won’t provide the name of your actual rep, that’s concerning.   “Too big” is not an excuse.   irs back tax help has been contacted by people who paid a tax resolution company thousands of dollars, and then found out that their back tax representation had a suspended license. 

4.  Tax debt relief companies put a lot of money into training their representatives.  In your discussions about the overdue taxes, do you get the feeling that their spending money on sales tactics, or are they knowledgeable about your IRS tax problem?  The tax resolution company salesperson should be patient, knowledgeable, polite, and helpful.

5.  A tax debt relief company should explain all of the options to fix IRS back tax problems.  For all past due IRS tax problems, an Installment Agreement (IRS Form 433d), Offer in Compromise (IRS Form 656), and a Partial Payment Installment Agreement should all be explored.  If it for 941 payroll (trust fund) tax, or corporate income 1120 back taxes, business restructuring should also be explored.  If someone is fixated on only discussing one idea, that is concerning.   

6.  The tax debt relief company should be willing to split up your payment to them. Typically over two weeks to thirty days. 

• If they want you to pay in full up front, the tax resolution company is probably focused more on your money than your IRS tax problem.  Find someone who will be reasonable with you.  This problem won’t be solved over night. 

Overall, a tax resolution firm should make you feel comfortable and confident that they can assist.  If you have any misgivings, look around a little more.  As usual, we’re happy to be that second opinion.  You will be treated well if you contact us, for proof read irs back tax help testimonials.  if you’d like me to refer someone to you who meets irs back tax help hiring criteria, contact irs back tax help.