LOADING

5 Tips for Hiring a Tax Relief Professional

If you’re one of the millions of Americans suffering from tax debt, hiring a tax relief professional can be a great idea. Depending on where you live, you may hear advertisements on television and the radio for debt relief services. While many of these services are valid, hundreds of debt relief scams exist; therefore, you have to be extremely careful when selecting a tax relief professional.

 

Avoid Scams

As previously mentioned, you may have heard or seen an advertisement on the radio or television for tax debt relief. Often, these services claim to make your tax woes disappear all while charging you a significant up-front fee. Unfortunately, some of the most common scams are a result of these advertisements. Scam artists prey on people who are desperate for relief. They often claim to instantly qualify you for tax reduction programs and give you false resolutions or limited time offers.

In order to avoid scams, do your research. Before ever committing to working with a tax relief professional, look up the company online to read reviews and complaints. If it’s a scam, there is a good chance you will be able to uncover it by doing a little research. Additionally, a good rule of thumb is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

Hiring a Professional

It’s important to discuss scams because, unfortunately, they are a very real part of the tax relief industry. However, just because scams exist, it does not take away from the fact that several high-quality, professional tax relief services exist. If you’re in need of tax relief due to back taxes, unfiled returns, audits, tax liens, levies and wage garnishments or seizures, it’s a good idea to hire a professional. When you do, keep these 5 tips in mind.

 

1. Understand the Costs

You do not need to work with a tax relief professional in order to handle your debt. As a taxpayer, you are still able to represent yourself before the IRS. If you elect to work with a tax professional, it will cost you. However, the benefits can far exceed the cost.

The biggest benefit you receive when turning your tax debt over to a professional is the peace of mind knowing your taxes are being handled properly, plus it saves you a lot of time of trying to figure out how to present your case.

When you work with a tax debt professional, they will increase your chances of resolving your tax issues as well as help you qualify for IRS debt relief programs and settlement options. They will handle all the paperwork to ensure it is filed properly and in most cases will  take over all communications with the IRS on your behalf.

Like any business professional you work with, a debt relief professional will share with you their fees for services available. A good professional will typically offer a consultation and will be very honest and up front about the costs. Be sure to discuss this when you meet with a debt relief professional so you fully understand all the costs involved in the process.

 

2. Understand Your Options

As lonely as it may feel, you do have options when managing your tax debt. When you work with a tax relief professional, they should communicate all options to you and explain what each option means. Debt relief programs have very stringent qualifications and detailed application processes.

A good tax relief professional is familiar with these programs and will help to determine if you qualify. If you do, they will walk you through the entire application process and often times handle your communication with the IRS. If certain IRS programs are not an option, a good tax professional will let you know what your alternatives are. Regardless of your situation, they will focus on working with you to develop a plan to resolve your tax debt issues.

 

3. Check the Credentials

As we mentioned previously, it’s important to do research before working with a debt professional. Not only should you research the company, you should research the individual who will be working with you. Good tax relief professionals are proud of their credentials and more than willing to discuss them with you. A professional in the debt relief industry should be a CPA, Enrolled Agent, Attorney, or former IRS agent. Be sure to ask what qualifications the individual has before working with them. In all cases, you will want to make sure the professional specializes in “tax representation” matters, aka “tax relief”.

 

4. Ask Questions About Your Situation

Each situation is different. A tax relief program that worked for your sister may not work for you. The best way to guarantee your situation is handled properly is to work with a professional who will give you a personalized plan and solution to your issue. When you begin working with a debt professional, be open and honest about your situation. In order for the professional to find the best solution, you have to explain your entire tax situation. A good tax professional will know what questions to ask you and what solutions are available to you.

 

5. Look for Honesty, Transparency and Trust

If you’re experiencing tax debt, you can feel very vulnerable. Unfortunately, some tax services take advantage of your vulnerability, over-promise and under-deliver. It’s imperative that you select a firm that is honest, transparent and trustworthy.

A good tax relief professional will have an upfront discussion on all the fees throughout the debt relief process and answer all of your questions regarding the fees. In addition to that, a good professional will take the time to slow down and listen to your specific issue. If you feel rushed or if it appears that the professional doesn’t care, it likely won’t be a good working relationship. Instead, select a professional who makes you feel comfortable and secure throughout the process.

 

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing tax debt, working with a professional is usually the best  solution. The key is to be selective in who you hire. Use the tips above, always do research, and remember, if it seems way too good to be true, it unfortunately probably is.

Not only are we licensed Tax Relief Specialists, we are also former Senior IRS Agents that now serve the best interests of taxpayers like you – all we do is handle IRS Tax Relief matters, all day, every day. Speak to us at (949) 260-4770.

If you have questions about tax debt relief, contact us today  at (949) 260-4770 for a CONFIDENTIAL consultation with our former IRS Agents.  

We look forward to serving you.

More Tax Tips

Very good experience and glad I made the decision to use this company. Michael was professional and courteous in all of my dealings with him. My tax dilemma was quickly resolved and Michael even waived much of his normal fee. Where else have you heard of a business doing that? Without question, I would recommend Landmark Tax Group for anyone seeking a fair resolution for a tax problem.

Great service! Michael really knows his stuff and goes above and beyond. They delivered more than they promised and helped me get an AWESOME resolution to my case.  I highly recommend them.

I worked with Landmark Tax Group to help sort through my LLC, 501c(3) and personal finance questions. They were prompt, friendly and extremely knowledgeable. This was the best experience I’ve had with a tax company. I would HIGHLY recommend them!

Great service!!! Very diligent and most importantly high integrity. One of those rare occasions when someone is looking out for your best interest.

Michael was fantastic! He understood my case very quickly, got right to work and was super prompt with communications. His professionalism and his friendly demeanor immediately put me at ease. I whole heartedly recommend contacting them if you’re in need of advice and assistance.

I received great advice in how to deal with the FTB, i don’t review often, but when someone is honest and legitimate, they do deserve a review.  My questions were answered, and if i didn’t quite understand, Micheal was more than willing to give me follow-up answers to better help me.  I highly recommend Landmark Tax Group, just for the mere fact that they treat you as a human being, Not a cash cow.

I had some returns from previous years to complete after receiving a hefty bill from the California Franchise Tax Board.  Michael was prompt in answering my questions and very helpful and reassuring.  We had several back and forth communications and this was all done for free since they do not prepare tax returns.  He gave me some contacts and advice and now I’m on my way to getting my situation resolved.  I’m very thankful for his advice and guidance.

While Michael’s scope of practice meant that we ultimately could not work directly to resolve the issue I was having, he was very prompt, professional, generous and kind in taking time out of his schedule to consult with me, refer me to his network of colleagues- not just once, but a second time even months after. Some professionals are just after services and compensations but Michael strikes me as someone who genuinely cares about your situation and wants to see to it that it gets resolved. These other reviews speak to that as well. You never want to be in a situation where you need to be looking up tax help, but God forbid you ever are, Michael is the person you want in your corner!

Michael and Landmark Tax Group were simply awesome. I like so many others had a year’s old tax issue arise with California FTB. I no longer live there which compounded the stress of the situation. The state had seized monies and filed a lien. After a call to an online tax relief place and some sketchy phone calls I was so happy to find Michael and immediately felt in good hands… at a time of considerable panic.
Fast forward to today and with his help I am totally debt free. He saved me $23,000
I highly recommend Michael and Landmark Tax Group

Michael Raanan is an angel! Michael went above and beyond for me. He was very knowledgeable, professional and very thorough! He is easy to talk to and amazing at what he does. I have a feeling that everyone at landmark tax group shares this way of professionalism! I highly recommend coming here for any and all of your tax help. They will help you and you will be more than pleased with them. 🙂

After calling the other highly advertised tax assistant agency’s and being disappointed with how they responded to my tax matter, I feel fortunate to have found out about the Landmark Tax Group. Michael was very understanding of my situation, and I felt very comfortable dealing with him. He was very knowledgeable and professional in handling our tax issue in a timely manner. I would highly recommend The Landmark Tax Group to anyone who needs assistance in dealing with the IRS.

Wow, just wow. I called Michael today to ask about some major tax issues I had with a defunct corporation I’d started years ago. Michael talked to me for about half an hour, walking me through options and generally helping me understand my options.

Because of him, I’m going to rest nicely tonight for the first time in weeks. It was great to hear that he used to work in IRS collections for 8 years too… which made me feel a lot more secure in his answer.

In all, I’m completely stunned by the level of service he gave to a random stranger who called in and wasn’t going to turn into any revenue for him. I have to imagine that his level of service for actual customers is unreal.

Fast, dependable, reliable, full transparency.  Michael Raanan of Landmark Tax Group allayed my fears spending the rest of my senior years paying my tax debt.  As a result of his extensive knowledge of the tax code, the right questions to ask, and his dedication to my case, I had information, resolution and a plan of action within 24 hours, start to finish.  Amazing!  I highly recommend Landmark Tax Group!

We were very pleased with the expert assistance we received from Michael Raanan at Landmark Tax Group.  In a matter of months we had a resolution to our IRS tax issue.  He was very knowledgeable, professional, explained things in easy to understand terminology & was very easy to discuss our tax issues with.  We called around to other tax groups & just felt the most comfortable speaking & working with Michael.  We are happy to recommend him & his firm.

Great place for tax [relief] advice. Even if they don’t see a need for you to use and pay for their service, they’ll still give you excellent advice and direction at no cost. They are worth a call.

Michael Raanan represents the highest level of professionalism, integrity, decency, and true concern for his clients. His advice every step of the way was right on target.  The end result was a savings of $13,000 on my taxes.

I have already referred him to the other members of my financial team and have complete confidence in referring any clients to him. He is a shining star in his field.

Oh, did I mention how reasonable his fees are? Exceptional considering the amount of attention he provides.

Landmark Tax Group
As featured in
Social Shares

Related Articles

Until now, taxpayers have had three options for resolving their IRS back taxes: 1. You can hire a tax lawyer … ...

Read More
Prepping for the IRS Reopening

The IRS is reopening July 15, which means 2019 tax returns and payments are due. The IRS will resume enforcement, ...

Read More
The Extended Date

Though the IRS is usually an additional source of stress, they’re working on ways to ensure they’re a source of ...

Read More