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Alleviate Tax's reviews are better than most in this industry (4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot). It is a real, BBB accredited tax resolution company that has worked IRS cases since 2018. The catch is cost and certainty: fees are only quoted on a call, the Phase 1 investigation fee is paid upfront and is non-refundable, and the company guarantees no result. The BBB also logged 233 complaints in three years, mostly a sign of how many clients it has, so read them before you sign.
Your options
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Alleviate Tax This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review People who owe the IRS a large balance, have unfiled years or face a levy or garnishment, and want a firm to pull transcripts and deal with the IRS for them.
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Priority Tax Relief This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. Alternative People with larger or more complex IRS or state tax debt, such as payroll or sales tax, who want a firm to handle the IRS calls and paperwork.
- Company
- Alleviate Tax LLC, 5 Park Plaza, Suite 800, Irvine, CA 92614; founded February 20182
- Fees
- Not published. Flat fee for Phase 1 (investigation) paid upfront and non-refundable; Phase 2 (resolution) fee quoted after Phase 14
- Guarantee
- None. The company states it cannot guarantee any outcome or timeline5
- Timeline
- Phase 1 typically 1 to 2 weeks; Phase 2 typically 2 to 10 months3
- Services
- Offer in compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatement, wage garnishment and levy release, unfiled returns, innocent spouse relief, currently not collectible status4
- Staff
- Says it has 150+ tax professionals, including CPAs, enrolled agents and tax attorneys2
- Payment
- Credit card, ACH or wire; payment plans or third-party financing for the resolution phase3
- BBB
- A rating, accredited since July 3, 2019; 233 complaints in the last 3 years6
Pros
- Investigation comes first, so you see your IRS transcripts and options before paying for resolution
- No obligation to buy Phase 2 after the investigation
- Handles unfiled returns, levies and garnishments as well as debt settlement
- Strong review scores for this industry, 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot
- Payment plans or financing available for the resolution fee
Cons
- No prices on the website; you only get a quote by phone
- Phase 1 fee is upfront and non-refundable, and fees are non-refundable once work starts
- No guarantee of any result or timeline
- 233 BBB complaints in three years, with slow callbacks a common theme
- Federal IRS work is the focus; its service list does not include state tax debt resolution
Best for: People who owe the IRS a large balance, have unfiled years or face a levy or garnishment, and want a firm to pull transcripts and deal with the IRS for them.
Skip it if: You owe under $50,000, have filed your returns and can afford a monthly payment, since you can set up an IRS payment plan online yourself.
Alleviate Tax vs. competitors
| Company | Fees published | Guarantee | State tax cases | BBB | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleviate Tax | No, quoted by phone | None | Not on its service list | A, accredited since 2019 | Visit site |
| Anthem Tax Services | No, minimum deposit applies | Limited written money-back guarantee | Yes, including California FTB | A+, accredited since 2017 | Read review |
| Priority Tax Relief | No | Advertised; terms not published | Yes | A+, according to the company | Visit site |
Tax relief companies we reviewed
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Alleviate Tax This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. This review BestGuide rating: 4.7 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who owe the IRS a large balance, have unfiled years or face a levy or garnishment, and want a firm to pull transcripts and deal with the IRS for them. -
Priority Tax Relief This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.9 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with larger or more complex IRS or state tax debt, such as payroll or sales tax, who want a firm to handle the IRS calls and paperwork. -
Five Star Tax Resolution This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.8 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Taxpayers with a complex IRS case who want an attorney supervising the work and are willing to negotiate fees on a call. -
Tax Relief Advocates This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.6 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Taxpayers who want a second or third quote from a large, BBB-accredited firm and will get the fee and refund terms in writing. -
1099 Tax Problems This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Self-employed workers with back taxes or unfiled returns who want a free call and are comfortable being served by Priority Tax Relief. -
Optima Tax Relief BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with a large or complicated IRS or state tax problem, such as unfiled years, levies or an audit, who want one firm to handle the whole case. -
Tax Rise BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with a large IRS or state balance, unfiled returns or an active levy who want a firm to prepare returns and negotiate for them. -
Anthem Tax Services This company pays BestGuide when you connect with it through our site. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first. Payment never changes what we report about fees, terms or complaints. BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People with complex IRS or state tax debt, such as unfiled years, levies or wage garnishments, who want enrolled agents or attorneys to handle it.
Alleviate Tax, step by step
Free discovery call
A call of about 15 minutes to review your IRS letters and finances and see whether the company will take your case.
Pay for Phase 1
You pay the investigation fee upfront and sign IRS Form 2848 so the firm can speak to the IRS for you. This fee is non-refundable.
Investigation
Over 1 to 2 weeks the firm pulls your transcripts, reviews your finances and presents your options in a case summary call.
Decide on Phase 2
You get a quote for resolution and can accept, finance it or walk away with the information.
Resolution
The firm files missing returns and negotiates with the IRS, which typically takes 2 to 10 months. You must keep filing and paying current taxes.
Alleviate Tax legitimacy and licensing
Yes. Alleviate Tax LLC is a private tax resolution company at 5 Park Plaza, Suite 800, in Irvine, California. It says it was founded in February 2018 and now has more than 150 tax professionals, including CPAs, enrolled agents and tax attorneys. The BBB gives it an A rating and lists it as accredited since July 3, 2019.
Being legitimate is not the same as being right for you. The company states plainly that it is not affiliated with the IRS, that it cannot guarantee any result, and that fees are non-refundable once work starts. We found no FTC or state attorney general action against Alleviate Tax in our searches, and no complaints under its name in the CFPB database.
The settlement shown on its homepage, a $26,754 balance settled for $300 through an Offer in compromise. An IRS agreement to settle tax debt for less than the full amount when you cannot pay. Compare tax relief companies, is a real type of outcome but an unusual one. The company itself says only a small percentage of taxpayers qualify for an offer in compromise.
Alleviate Tax cost
Alleviate Tax does not publish prices. Its FAQ says it charges a flat fee for each phase and quotes the exact amount during the free consultation, based on how complex your case is.
- Phase 1, investigation: paid in full upfront and non-refundable. You may qualify for a hardship discount.
- Phase 2, resolution: quoted after the investigation. You can pay through a payment plan with the company or financing from its lending partners.
LendEDU, a review site, reported an investigation fee under $500 and resolution fees of about $2,000 to $6,000. Alleviate Tax does not confirm those figures on its site, so get your quote in writing.
Compare that with the IRS’s own costs: a short-term plan (paid within 180 days) has no setup fee, and a long-term online plan costs $29 with automatic withdrawals or $69 without, with lower fees for low-income taxpayers. An offer in compromise has a $205 application fee, which low-income applicants do not pay.
How Alleviate Tax works
The process has a free call and two paid phases.
- Discovery call: about 15 minutes. You describe your IRS letters, income and assets, and the company decides whether to take your case.
- Phase 1, investigation (1 to 2 weeks): you sign a power of attorney (Form 2848), the firm contacts the IRS, pulls your transcripts, analyzes your finances and presents a case summary with your options.
- Phase 2, resolution (2 to 10 months): the firm files any missing returns and negotiates an Installment agreement. An IRS payment plan that lets you pay a balance over time. Compare tax relief companies, offer in compromise, Penalty abatement. The IRS removal of penalties for reasonable cause or a first-time issue. Compare tax relief companies or Currently not collectible. An IRS status that pauses collection because of financial hardship; the debt remains. Compare tax relief companies status.
You are not required to buy Phase 2. If you stop after Phase 1, you keep the information about what you owe and your options, and you can act on it yourself.
What customers say about Alleviate Tax
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Patient staff who explain the process step by step
- Relief at having someone else deal with the IRS
- Professional, organized handling of complex cases
Common complaints
- Slow callbacks and hard to reach staff after sign-up
- Few updates during the resolution phase
- Upfront fees paid before learning the firm could not help
- Staff changes on the account without notice
Alleviate Tax complaints and reviews
The BBB lists 233 complaints filed in the last three years and 309 customer reviews. On Trustpilot, Alleviate Tax scores 4.4 out of 5 from 394 reviews, with 81% five star and 15% one star.
Positive reviews mostly praise patient, clear staff who explain each step. Negative reviews follow a pattern: slow callbacks once the case starts, trouble getting updates, staff changes on the account, and a few people who say they learned the company could not help only after they had paid.
To avoid those problems, ask for the full cost of both phases in writing, the name and credential (CPA, enrolled agent or attorney) of the person handling your case, and how often you will get updates. Keep copies of every IRS letter and check your own IRS online account for status.
Refunds and canceling
Alleviate Tax’s terms say fees are paid in full before each phase begins and are non-refundable once services have commenced. You can end the relationship at any time with written notice, but you remain responsible for fees incurred up to that date.
Some review sites mention a money-back guarantee or a lowest-price guarantee. Neither appears in the terms or disclaimer we read on Alleviate Tax’s site, so only rely on one if it is written into your signed agreement.
Rules that protect you
The FTC warns against any company that says you qualify for a tax relief program before reviewing your finances, promises to settle for a fraction of what you owe, or asks for its whole fee upfront. Only the IRS or your state revenue department decides what you qualify for.
Anyone who represents you before the IRS must be a CPA, enrolled agent or attorney, and you can check an enrolled agent or preparer in the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers. Interest and penalties keep growing while a case is open, so keep filing and paying current-year taxes.
Free help exists. The Taxpayer Advocate Service helps people whose IRS problems cause hardship or are stuck, and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics represent qualifying taxpayers for free or a small fee.
Who should skip Alleviate Tax
If you owe $50,000 or less, have filed all your returns and can make a monthly payment, apply for an IRS payment plan online yourself. If your income is low, contact a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic first. If your main problem is state tax debt, look for a firm that lists state cases, since Alleviate Tax’s service list is built around the IRS.
Alternatives to Alleviate Tax
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IRS online payment plan
Free to $69 to set up if you owe $50,000 or less and have filed your returns, with no middleman fee.
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Taxpayer Advocate Service or a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Free or low-cost help if your IRS problem is causing hardship or your income qualifies.
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Anthem Tax Services
A better fit if you also owe state tax or want a written money-back guarantee.
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A local CPA or enrolled agent
Often clearer hourly or flat pricing and one named person on your case.
Next steps
Alleviate Tax reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Alleviate Tax, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Alleviate Tax a real company?
Yes. It is a registered business in Irvine, California, founded in 2018, with an A rating from the BBB and accreditation since 2019. It is a private company, not part of the IRS, and it does not guarantee results.
How much does Alleviate Tax charge?
Alleviate Tax does not publish its fees. It charges a flat upfront fee for the investigation phase and quotes a separate resolution fee afterward. LendEDU reported an investigation fee under $500 and resolution fees of about $2,000 to $6,000, but get your own quote in writing.
Does Alleviate Tax give refunds?
Its terms say the Phase 1 fee is non-refundable and that all fees are non-refundable once services start. If a salesperson promises a refund or guarantee, make sure it is in your signed agreement.
How long does Alleviate Tax take?
The company says the investigation takes 1 to 2 weeks and resolution usually takes 2 to 10 months. The IRS sets much of the timing, and offers in compromise often take the longest.
Can Alleviate Tax settle my debt for less than I owe?
Only if the IRS accepts an offer in compromise, which depends on your income, expenses and assets. The company says only a small percentage of taxpayers qualify. Most clients end up with a payment plan, penalty relief or currently not collectible status.
How many complaints does Alleviate Tax have?
The BBB shows 233 complaints in the last three years. Common themes in negative reviews are slow callbacks, few case updates and fees paid before learning the firm could not help.
Does Alleviate Tax help with state taxes?
Its service list and terms describe IRS resolution work. Ask on the first call whether your state tax debt is included before you pay anything.
Do I have to keep paying the IRS while Alleviate Tax works on my case?
You must keep filing returns and paying current-year taxes, and interest and penalties keep adding up. Ask whether you should keep paying on your existing balance while the case is open.
Can I do what Alleviate Tax does myself?
Yes. The company's own FAQ says there is nothing it does that you cannot technically do yourself. You can apply for payment plans online, request penalty relief and submit an offer in compromise using IRS forms.
Sources (13)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Alleviate Tax: Home (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Alleviate Tax: About (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Alleviate Tax: FAQ (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Alleviate Tax: Terms of Service (updated December 30, 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Alleviate Tax: Disclaimer (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Alleviate Tax LLC (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Alleviate Tax reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- LendEDU: Alleviate Tax review (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Online payment agreement application (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Offer in compromise (accessed October 12, 2026)
- FTC: Think you owe back taxes? Read this (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Taxpayer Advocate Service (accessed October 12, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database search (accessed October 12, 2026)
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