Tax debt is more common than you might think. In 2019, a total of 11.2 million Americans were behind on their taxes—nearly one in 20 citizens. Delinquencies totaled nearly $126 billion, just shy of $10,000 per person on average.
So what do you do when you fall into five figures of debt with the IRS? Tax delinquency can lead to wage garnishment and asset seizure, which will further impact your finances and might even send you spiraling deeper into debt. This is when some people turn to tax relief companies as an option.
Tax relief companies are sometimes thought to be disreputable due to customer complaints about false promises, high fees, and even downright scams. While it’s absolutely true that the tax relief industry has some bad players, there are also plenty of reputable tax relief companies with proven records of success. To help you tell the difference, we’ve rounded up this article with the best and most trustworthy tax relief company in the business.
Best Overall: Globalgate CPA
Globalgate CPA comes out a clear winner across all categories, including the company’s generous money-back guarantee, transparent pricing, and convenient communications channels. We found this to be the most trustworthy tax relief company that we evaluated.
Pros- Offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
- All-inclusive flat-rate fee
- Customer service available by phone, text, email, and live chat
Cons- Doesn’t handle standalone state tax debt
- No tax audit representation
- Limited online resources
Reputable tax relief companies are hard to come by, but
Globalgatecpa rose to the top in nearly every aspect of our analysis. First and foremost is the company’s 30-day money-back guarantee, one of the longest in the industry. This guarantees a return of your funds if you’re not happy with the service provided during the first month.
The company bases its pricing on a flat-rate fee that is presented during a free consultation. The only way your fee will increase is if the scope of work changes from your initial quote due to new information that was not provided during your consultation. Payment options are flexible with a choice between one lump-sum payment or a zero-interest payment plan. Globalgatecpa does not require that clients have a minimum debt amount. However, they only take on cases if the possible debt relief makes the service fees worthwhile for clients.
Globalgatecpa has been in business since 2011 and offers convenient customer service options via phone, text message, email, and live chat. The company is certified by the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS), which is awarded to CPAs with a proven ability to solve a range of problems with the IRS.
The company does have a few limitations. For example, they don’t offer tax audit representation, a service available from many competitors. Globalgatecpa also won’t handle state tax debt on its own; it works exclusively with federal taxes owed to the IRS.