8 Best Tax Relief Companies of February 2026

Falling behind on your debt to Uncle Sam can be stressful — but you're not alone. According to the latest IRS data, Americans owed more than $157 billion in back taxes, penalties and interest for the 2022 tax year.

Another silver lining? Help is available.

If you’re in this position, your first move should be to directly contact the IRS. The agency will help you come up with a plan. You can find the IRS's contact information, plus summaries of its tax relief offerings and advice, on its website.

But if you don't have the time to do that or you simply decide you need more help, you may want to consider hiring a tax relief company — generally, a firm that helps taxpayers manage tax debt by negotiating with the IRS or state tax agencies on their behalf.

Tread carefully, though: These firms can be predatory, or at the very least overconfident, often guaranteeing to resolve your debt issue when they don’t actually have the power to do so. You’ll need to do careful research.

To help you navigate your options, we've reviewed and rounded up the eight best tax relief firms available today.

What to know about tax relief

• We found the best tax relief companies generally offer rates starting at $2,000 for full representation, require minimum debts (that are likely to make the fees worth your money), have money-back guarantees and boast positive customer reviews.
• All of our top picks offer free consultations and are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
• Community Tax Relief is our best overall tax relief company, while Larson Tax Relief has comparatively affordable fees and Precision Tax Relief has the best customer service.

How we chose our top picks

Our editors and writers reviewed a variety of tax relief companies to ensure our content is precise and guided by editorial accuracy. We contacted the companies listed to gather information and conducted interviews with experts. We ultimately decided our ranking based on 16 data points, including minimum debt relief required, fees, money-back guarantees and customer reviews.

Read the full methodology to learn more.

Our top picks for tax relief companies

Community Tax Relief — Best Overall
Precision Tax Relief — Best Customer Service
Anthem Tax Services — Best Guarantee
Larson Tax Relief — Most Affordable Fees
Victory Tax Lawyers — Best for Large Tax Debts
Optima Tax Relief — Best Mobile App
Tax Defense Network — Best for Bilingual Services
J. David Tax Law — Best for Complex Legal Issues

Why we chose this company: Community Tax Relief secured its title as best overall tax relief company due to its affordable fees, money-back guarantee, positive customer reviews and bilingual services. Investigation fees are $549 for personal cases and $999 for business cases on average. The company generally has a minimum debt threshold of $10,000 and offers discounts to certain groups, like veterans.

The company is fully staffed with native English and Spanish speakers, and it offers a money-back guarantee if it's unable to help. There is also a mobile app, which is rare for these types of companies, in both English and Spanish.

Read Money’s full Community Tax Relief review.

Why we chose this company: Precision Tax Relief stands out for its customer service reviews, including a 5 rating out of 5 on TrustPilot. The reviews say that clients are assigned to one person who becomes familiar with your situation as opposed to a team that might not know your particular case as thoroughly. They also mention that the tax professionals on staff are knowledgeable and helpful.

While the company doesn’t have a minimum requirement for a balance owed to the IRS and will not turn away someone who owes less than $10,000, Precision Tax Relief tells Money that taxpayers who owe less than $10,000 often don’t find the value in hiring it. The fees start at $500 for clients only needing tax return help and $4,400 for those needing representation.

Read Money’s full Precision Tax Relief review.

Why we chose this company: While money-back guarantees are common in this industry, most have a time limit. That’s not the case for Anthem Tax Services, which offers a 100% money-back guarantee if your tax situation does not improve.

The company charges a flat rate fee upfront that can vary widely per individual customer. Some services start at $500; generally, however, relief/resolution starts around $2,900 (the price can change if extra services are required along the way). Clients cannot be in active bankruptcy, and they also must have a monthly income of at least $2,000. Anthem Tax Services usually services tax liabilities above $10,000 but can make exceptions starting at $7,500.

Read Money’s full Anthem Tax Services review.

Why we chose this company: When you’re drowning in tax debt, the last thing you want to do is pay a ton of money to fix the issue. Larson Tax Relief charges less than some others on this list: Fees start at $400 to file tax returns and a minimum of $2,500 for full tax relief services. (The company also offers a $250 comprehensive account review option.)

Larson Tax Relief experienced an uptick in good reviews in 2025, especially from customers who said they liked how frequent communication was throughout the tax relief process.

Larson Tax Relief dropped its minimum debt requirement to $10,000. The company could be a good option if you’re specifically seeking business tax relief.

Read Money’s full Larson Tax Relief review.

Why we chose this company: Victory Tax Lawyers has a high minimum debt requirement ($25,000) and higher minimum cost than others on this list ($5,500), but it could be a good choice if you are dealing with large tax debts. Victory Tax Lawyers is a law firm, not just a resolution company, which means your consultation will take place with a licensed attorney.

Although the firm offers a wide range of services, it's the only company on our list with no money-back guarantee. This information — as well as what's listed above — is current as of 2025, the last time we were able to get in touch with the company.

Why we chose this company: Many tax relief companies require you to undergo a consultation as a first step, but Optima Tax Relief lets you get started with its mobile app. It’s rare for tax relief companies to even have an app, much less one that allows you to file a free tax extension and analyze your IRS notices. Community Tax Relief is the only other option on this list with an app.

As for tax relief services, the investigation fee is generally about $295 (as of 2024, when Money was last able to confirm its fees). Optima Tax Relief can help with both IRS and state tax relief, though a $10,000 minimum debt is usually required for the service to make financial sense.

Of note: Optima Tax Relief recently dropped to an A rating on the BBB website, which says it has received over 770 complaints about the company in the past three years.

Read Money’s full Optima Tax Relief review.

Why we chose this company: The Tax Defense Network is the clear winner of our best bilingual services category thanks to its English- and Spanish-speaking tax specialists and full website in both languages. The company also accepts a much lower minimum tax debt than its competitors at $5,000 — though, as always, customers should research whether the cost of services are worth the help they will receive.

The Tax Defense Network offers both IRS and state tax relief services, as well as specialized business tax solutions including close corporate filing services for when businesses need to shut down permanently.

The BBB put an alert on the Tax Defense Network's profile recently due to "a pattern of complaint [sic] alleging contract/service issues." Tamara Krause, senior manager of digital marketing at the Tax Defense Network, tells Money the company has addressed those issues internally by hiring additional case managers and implementing a new ticketing system, which have led to a "significant decrease in complaints."

Read Money’s full Tax Defense Network review.

Best for Complex Legal Issues: J. David Tax Law

Why we chose this company: At J. David Tax Law "only a tax attorney will handle your case," giving those with complex financial situations peace of mind throughout a stressful process. The company has both an English and Spanish version of its website available. It doesn't appear to have a minimum debt requirement, though it's likely best for large balances or disputes.

What sets J. David Tax Law apart is its highly trained staff and 20 in-person locations, which stretch from Miami to Los Angeles. In addition to typical state and nationwide tax relief services, J. David Tax Law offers support for IRS passport revocation or denials, tax litigation and payroll tax compliance. But while prospective customers can get a free consultation, it doesn't appear to have a money-back guarantee. J. David Tax Law did not return our requests for clarification on pricing or details.

J. David Tax Law was sued in 2024 by former customers alleging malpractice and unreasonably high fees. A proposed class-action lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in January 2025.

Other tax relief companies we considered

We assessed many more tax relief companies that ultimately did not make the cut. Below are several companies that were not named on our list but that may still be a fit depending on your situation.

Priority Tax Relief

Priority Tax relief offers both federal and state tax relief services nationwide, as well as bookkeeping, tax planning and more. As with the other companies on this list, the company offers complimentary tax consultations and will then provide a customized price for customer-specific services with fees starting as low as $500. However, the three-day money-back guarantee is much shorter than the guarantees of most companies on our list.

Perfect Tax Relief

Perfect Tax Relief offers both state and federal tax relief to people across the country, and its fees are relatively low ($2,000 to $7,500). While there’s a $10,000 minimum debt requirement if no tax preparation is needed, there’s no minimum if tax preparation is required. It does not offer a money-back guarantee. This information is current as of 2025.

Key takeaways about tax relief

If you owe the IRS, don’t panic. You have options. The first step you should take is to speak to the IRS directly or use its online tools to see whether you can resolve the issue through one of its channels or programs (like by setting up a payment plan). If you owe state taxes, you’ll need to check on what’s possible through your state’s revenue department.

But if you’re not able to make a plan to get out from under the debt with the IRS itself, there are professionals you can hire to help you. Enter tax relief companies, which will take on the burden of negotiating a payment plan with the IRS for a fee. That fee can be quite high and, in many cases, it may not be worth it (again, you should always check with the IRS directly about your options before hiring a third party).

Read below for more on how tax relief works, the types of tax relief and how to choose a company. You can also read Money’s full guide to tax relief.

How does tax relief work?

Tax relief companies generally work with the IRS or your state’s revenue office to lower your tax burden. The process typically involves three steps:

• Free consultation. You will meet, often by phone, with the tax relief company to go over your specific financial situation, and it will let you know if you’re a fit for its services. Many companies have a minimum requirement, such as $10,000. While that may seem high, it’s often the threshold of what you need to owe in order for a company’s services to be worth the cost, which can be high ($2,000 to $7,000, for example). Don’t be swayed by tax relief companies boasting a free consultation as a huge selling point; this is common practice.
• Investigation. Once you’ve hired the tax relief company, it will do a deeper analysis of your situation, start communicating with the IRS or your state on your behalf, and review your options.
• Resolution (ideally). In a best-case scenario, you’ll eventually be able to lower your tax burden. This can take several months or even years.

How to choose a tax relief company

Tax relief companies can be predatory, so if you choose this route, you need to do careful research. To reiterate: It’s always best to first determine whether you can directly set up a payment plan with the IRS or your state, or use another government-approved tool, to lower your tax burden. Only then may it make sense to work with a qualified tax attorney or tax relief company.

“I would put [third-party tax relief] at the bottom of the list,” says Christine Damico, a certified financial planner with Domain Money.

Here are a few factors to consider when selecting a tax relief company.

Credibility

Check the BBB website to make sure that the company you’re considering is accredited. Firms will also usually include certifications and memberships — the National Association of Tax Professionals or National Association of Enrolled Agents, for example — on their website. It’s also a good idea to check customer reviews on Trustpilot, Yelp, the BBB and other review sites.

If any company is telling you that you definitely qualify for tax relief, that’s a red flag, Damico says.

“Only the IRS or the state can actually make that determination,” she adds. Another red flag is if a tax relief company provides any upfront guarantee about the results, like that you’ll only pay 10% of your tax burden. Companies cannot guarantee a certain outcome like this.

You should also be wary of providers that push you to buy services immediately. After a consultation, you’ll want to revisit the IRS website to make sure what the company is telling you about your situation is accurate — and take the time to comfortably and thoroughly explore all your options.

Cost

Tax relief companies tend to have opaque fee structures because the amount you owe will come down to your specific situation (and how much work the company will have to do). None of the firms on our list provide specific fee information on their website, but once contacted by Money, many said the fees can begin at $2,000 to $3,500 for full tax relief services.

Be careful of companies asking for a high lump sum payment upfront or high monthly fees, since they can drag out the process to increase your bill, Damico says.

“The fee structure should be tied into the questions that are being asked,” she adds. “Are they trying to understand how this tax bill came into being in the first place, or is there a rush to get the payment from you before realizing what’s actually happening in your tax situation?”

Services and availability

Consider what the tax relief company can actually offer you. If your tax situation is simple, like if you need more time to pay your tax bill, you may only need help negotiating a payment plan with the IRS (though this is something you should likely first try to do on your own). But if your situation is more complicated, like you’ve owed the IRS thousands of dollars for multiple years, you may want help negotiating options like wage garnishments.

You also want to make sure the company in question can help with both IRS and state relief, if that’s what you need, and that it operates in your state. Some companies also provide extra services like audit representation, bookkeeping and tax prep, while others don’t.

Latest tax relief news

Tax season is here

The IRS has officially kicked off the 2026 tax filing season, during which about 164 million taxpayers are expected to file individual returns for income from 2025. The deadline for most people is April 15, though you can always check the IRS website to see whether you qualify for disaster relief.

This is the first tax season since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law. The OBBBA enacted a slew of tax changes, including extended income tax cuts, an expanded child tax credit and a larger standard deduction — moves Republicans say will put more money in Americans' pockets. The law also eliminated federal income taxes on cash tips and overtime.

Those tax breaks come at a cost: To help pay for them, the law included deep rollbacks to safety net programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. According to estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, roughly 15 million people could lose health coverage as a result of the Medicaid cuts.

The law also created a new government-backed savings account for children, offering a $1,000 "baby bonus" for babies born from 2025 through 2028. These birth-based custodial accounts, often referred to as "Trump Accounts," are designed as long-term, tax-preferred investment vehicles that remain tied up until the beneficiary turns 18.

2026 brackets and standard deduction update

The IRS has released the inflation-adjusted tax brackets and standard deduction amounts for the 2026 tax year, which applies to returns most will file in spring 2027.

The standard deduction will increase to $16,100 for single filers, $24,150 for heads of household and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly.

Income ranges for each tax bracket have also been raised to prevent modest pay increases from pushing taxpayers into a higher tax rate, with the maximum rate for 2026 remaining at 37%.

How we chose the best tax relief companies

To create our methodology, we did extensive research and pinpointed 16 data points we could use to assess companies. These fell into four categories: availability, cost, credibility and services.

Credibility made up 35% of our weighting for each company, because tax relief companies can be predatory and illegitimate. Cost made up 30% of the scores, as it’s one of the main factors that customers should consider when deciding to work with these companies. Availability and services were weighed at 20% and 15%, respectively, because they determine how many people can actually use a given tax relief service.

Below are more details on the data points considered within each category.

• Availability: We considered the minimum debt required to work with a company, whether it provided both IRS and state tax relief, nationwide availability and whether it offered a mobile app.
• Cost: For cost, we considered fees, whether the company offered a free consultation and money-back (or service) guarantees. These prices were accurate as of January 2026 if not otherwise specified.
• Credibility: We checked that the companies were accredited by the BBB and evaluated their customer reviews from the BBB, TrustPilot, Yelp and other sources. We also assessed their certifications and memberships, like those with the National Association of Tax Professionals and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, given that professional organizations often help develop guidelines and ethical standards that can hold members to a higher standard.
• Services: The services factor included the type of tax relief and other tax-related services offered, customer service availability and hours, and whether there were bilingual services.

Summary of our top picks for tax relief

Community Tax Relief — Best Overall
Precision Tax Relief — Best Customer Service
Anthem Tax Services — Best Guarantee
Larson Tax Relief — Most Affordable Fees
Victory Tax Lawyers — Best for Large Tax Debts
Optima Tax Relief — Best Mobile App
Tax Defense Network — Best for Bilingual Services
J. David Tax Law — Best for Complex Legal Issues

More from Money:

How to Get Free Tax Help From the IRS and Others

Here Are the Top 10 Tax Friendly States in the U.S.

Why Millions of Taxpayers Could Get Bigger Refunds Next Year