4.5/5
Service Evaluation
Quick Verdict: Is Tax Hardship Center Legit?
Yes. Tax Hardship Center is a legitimate, BBB-Accredited firm based in California. They stand out for offering personalized service—you get a dedicated case manager instead of being passed around a call center.
- Best For: People who want 1-on-1 attention and direct communication.
- Trust Factor: A Rated by the BBB (Better Business Bureau).
- Key Service: Stops Wage Garnishments & Bank Levies quickly.
Introduction
If you’re struggling with IRS debt, wage garnishment, or unfiled tax returns, finding a trustworthy partner can make all the difference. While big national firms often treat clients like numbers, Tax Hardship Center positions itself as a “boutique” solution: professional, affordable, and highly personalized.
Based in Westlake Village, California, this firm has built a reputation for helping individuals and small businesses reduce or eliminate tax debt through negotiation. But with so many scams in the industry, the top question remains: Is Tax Hardship Center legit?
In this review, we explore their negotiation success, fees, and why their “Dedicated Case Manager” model might be better than the big industry giants.
Is Tax Hardship Center Legit?
According to search data, this is the #1 question potential clients have. Let’s look at the facts:
Yes, Tax Hardship Center LLC is legitimate. Unlike lead-generation sites that sell your data, this is a real tax firm with a physical headquarters in California. Their credibility is backed by:
- BBB Accreditation: They hold an A Rating with the Better Business Bureau.
- Licensed Pros: They employ Enrolled Agents (federally licensed tax practitioners) to represent you before the IRS.
- Longevity: They have been operating for over a decade, helping thousands of clients resolve debt.
How Tax Hardship Center Works
The process is designed to take the weight off your shoulders immediately. It starts with a Free Consultation—a no-obligation call where a specialist reviews your financial situation to see if you qualify for the IRS Fresh Start Initiative.
If you move forward, the “Boutique Difference” kicks in:
- Immediate Protection: They file paperwork to pause collection actions (Stopping levies and garnishments).
- Investigation: Your dedicated Case Manager pulls your transcripts to see exactly what the IRS thinks you owe.
- Resolution Strategy: They negotiate the best possible outcome, whether that’s an Offer in Compromise (settling for less) or a hardship status.
Services Offered Checklist
Tax Hardship Center provides a focused range of services, covering the most urgent IRS relief needs:
- Offer in Compromise (OIC): Negotiate to settle your IRS debt for pennies on the dollar.
- Wage Garnishment Release: Emergency action to stop the IRS from taking your paycheck.
- Installment Agreements: Negotiate a monthly payment you can actually afford.
- Penalty Abatement: Request forgiveness for penalties due to “reasonable cause.”
- Audit Representation: Professional defense if the IRS decides to audit your returns.
- Currently Not Collectible (CNC): Get your debt paused if you cannot afford to pay.
Why Choose Them Over Big Firms?
The “Dedicated Case Manager” Advantage
The biggest complaint in the tax relief industry is “poor communication.” Big firms often bounce you between different agents. Tax Hardship Center assigns a single point of contact to your case. This means when you call, you speak to someone who already knows your story.
Transparent Qualification
They are known for being honest during the free consultation. If they cannot help you (for example, if you don’t owe enough to qualify for relief), they typically tell you upfront rather than taking your money.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High Touch Service: You get a dedicated professional, not a call center script.
- BBB Accredited: A Rated and verified legitimate.
- Free Consultation: Risk-free assessment of your Fresh Start eligibility.
- Nationwide Service: Helps clients in all 50 states.
Cons
- Quote-Based Pricing: Like most firms, they don’t list prices online (fees depend on debt size).
- Not for “Tiny” Debts: Best suited for tax debts over $10,000.
- Limited Business Services: Focus is primarily on debt relief, not general bookkeeping.
Final Verdict
Tax Hardship Center is an excellent choice for taxpayers who value communication and personal attention. While they may not have the massive advertising budget of the industry giants, their “boutique” approach often results in a better customer experience.
If you are looking for a legitimate, BBB-accredited partner to handle your IRS negotiations—and you want to know the name of the person handling your file—we rate them a solid 4.5/5.
Reviews
Ed W
Best company to hire when dealing with the IRS. Great team, knowledgable about the tax statutes. Professional, tenacious, honest, affordable, and diligent. They got me the agreement that wor...
Best company to hire when dealing with the IRS. Great team, knowledgable about the tax statutes. Professional, tenacious, honest, affordable, and diligent. They got me the agreement that worked for me. Other companies I hired were incompetent, lazy and had to chase them down once they got my money. Hire Tax Hardship Center first and you won't need anyone else. Best company and affordable.
Michael Siegel
Nobody is perfect, that is why the 4 star vs 5 star rating. Early on more facts about the IRS and its ability to get decisions about the Fresh Start programs and breakdown of how one fits in...
Nobody is perfect, that is why the 4 star vs 5 star rating. Early on more facts about the IRS and its ability to get decisions about the Fresh Start programs and breakdown of how one fits in. Otherwise, the Tax relief personnel was led in my case with Katherine Hess as my case manager and facts were not coming to her at times for weeks/months at a time. Katherine was a delight to work with, always took the time to make sure I understood what was going on and back it up with data. I am grateful to her service, expertise and patience where I was concerned.
Blake Haller
The person selling us on the service wasn’t completely honest regarding past refunds and deadlines to collect them. However the person preparing the documents for us once we signed was exc...
The person selling us on the service wasn’t completely honest regarding past refunds and deadlines to collect them. However the person preparing the documents for us once we signed was excellent. I do recommend the service, just make sure you ask a LOT of questions up front.