On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- Tax Network USA vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- Tax Network USA legitimacy and licensing
- Tax Network USA cost
- Got a "Notice of Tax Lien" letter from Tax Network USA?
- How Tax Network USA Works
- Tax Network USA complaints and reviews
- What the IRS lets you do yourself
- Who should skip Tax Network USA
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
Tax Network USA's policy makes the $49.99 Discovery Fee and fees already paid nonrefundable. It is a real, BBB-accredited firm (A rating, 164 complaints in three years) with named enrolled agents and a former IRS revenue officer on staff. But in August 2025 it paid $400,000 to settle a lawsuit by four California district attorneys over unsolicited mailers that implied a government connection, and its Trustpilot score is 2.7 with 37% one-star reviews citing upfront fees, missed callbacks and refused refunds. If a Tax Network USA letter about a tax lien prompted your search, know that it is marketing, not a government notice, and compare free IRS options first.
Your options
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Tax Network USA 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 Business owners or individuals with complex IRS or state problems who want a firm with named enrolled agents and are comfortable with nonrefundable fees.
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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
- Tax Network USA (Tax Network USA & Partners, Inc.), 15760 Ventura Blvd #1400, Encino, CA 91436, per the BBB7
- In business since
- January 9, 2009, per the BBB; co-founded by Michael-Tod Trzaska (President) and Joshua Hanna (Vice President)3
- Upfront fee
- $49.99 one-time Discovery Fee for investigation work; all sales final, nonrefundable except where law requires4
- Subscription
- Buying the Discovery Fee also enrolls you in TaxApp, $19.99 a month, first charged 30 days after your first payment; cancel in the portal, no prorated refunds5
- Resolution fees
- Not published; set in a Service Order. Terms say fees already paid are nonrefundable unless the Service Order says otherwise5
- Staff
- Names enrolled agents Ebrahim Sharifan and Ming Zhuang, tax attorney Ana Kukura and former IRS Revenue Officer Jerry Barnes; its FAQ refers to "contracted tax attorneys"3
- Regulatory action
- August 26, 2025 stipulated judgment with the Sonoma, Napa, San Diego and San Francisco district attorneys: $400,000 in penalties and costs and a ban on government look-alike mailers, without admitting liability8
- Claims
- Says it has settled over $500 million in tax debts and has over 120 employees; not independently verified1
Pros
- Low $49.99 fee to start the investigation
- Names its enrolled agents, a tax attorney and a former IRS revenue officer
- BBB accredited since 2020 with an A rating
- Business services including bookkeeping, payroll tax and entity formation
Cons
- Paid $400,000 in 2025 over government look-alike tax lien mailers
- Discovery Fee and paid fees are nonrefundable
- Trustpilot 2.7 with 37% one-star reviews
- 164 BBB complaints in three years
- Discovery Fee automatically starts a $19.99 a month subscription
- Terms require binding individual arbitration and waive class actions
Best for: Business owners or individuals with complex IRS or state problems who want a firm with named enrolled agents and are comfortable with nonrefundable fees.
Skip it if: A past settlement over deceptive mailers is a dealbreaker for you, or you want refundable fees and a cleaner complaint record.
Tax Network USA vs. competitors
| Company | BBB rating | BBB complaints, last 3 years | Upfront fee | Government action | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax Network USA | A, accredited since 2020 | 164 | $49.99 nonrefundable | $400,000 California DA settlement, 2025 | Visit site |
| Optima Tax Relief | A+, accredited since 2012 | 805 | Investigation phase fee, refundable within 15 days | None shown on BBB profile | Visit site |
| Tax Law Advocates | A+, accredited since 2011 | 30 | Not published | None found | Visit site |
| Anthem Tax Services | A+, accredited since 2017 | 83 | Minimum deposit, amount not published | None found | Read review |
Tax relief companies we reviewed
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Tax Network USA 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: 4.6 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: Business owners or individuals with complex IRS or state problems who want a firm with named enrolled agents and are comfortable with nonrefundable fees. -
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. -
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. 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. -
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.
Tax Network USA pricing at a glance
Tax Network USA published fees, as listed October 20264
| Fee | Amount | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Fee (investigation) | $49.99 one time | No, except where required by law |
| TaxApp access and IRS monitoring (auto-enrolled with Discovery) | $19.99 a month, starting 30 days after first payment | No refunds for periods already charged |
| Resolution, preparation and other services | Set in your Service Order | Only if the Service Order says so |
Total resolution fees aren't published. The terms require binding individual arbitration. Trustpilot reviewers report payments from about $900 to $6,000.
Tax Network USA, step by step
Free consultation and Discovery Fee
After a free call, you pay a $49.99 nonrefundable Discovery Fee for the firm to pull your IRS and state records.
Protective status
The firm files a power of attorney and asks the IRS or state for a collection hold while it reviews your records.
Financial analysis and Service Order
It reviews your finances and proposes a resolution with a fee in a Service Order. Read the refund terms before signing.
Negotiation
Staff file missing returns and negotiate a payment plan, Offer in Compromise, penalty relief or hardship status. The IRS decides.
Monitoring subscription
Paying the Discovery Fee also starts a $19.99 a month TaxApp subscription 30 days later. Cancel it in the portal settings if you don't want it.
Tax Network USA legitimacy and licensing
Tax Network USA is a real company. The BBB lists it at 15760 Ventura Blvd in Encino, California, started in 2009, accredited since November 2020 with an A rating, and run by co-founders Michael-Tod Trzaska and Joshua Hanna. Its team page names enrolled agents Ebrahim Sharifan and Ming Zhuang, tax attorney Ana Kukura and Jerry Barnes, a former IRS revenue officer. We could not match the name Ana Kukura in a State Bar of California name search, so ask for her bar number; its FAQ also says its attorneys are “contracted.”
The biggest red flag is legal. On August 26, 2025, the district attorneys of Sonoma, Napa, San Diego and San Francisco counties announced a stipulated judgment against Tax Network USA & Partners, Inc. over unsolicited mailers to people with tax liens that allegedly used what appeared to be a county seal and “Notice of Tax Lien” language. The company paid $400,000 in penalties and costs, agreed not to send government look-alike mailers, and did not admit liability.
Tax Network USA cost
Tax Network USA publishes two fees: a one-time $49.99 Discovery Fee for investigating your records, which is “all sales final” and nonrefundable except where the law requires, and a $19.99 a month TaxApp subscription for portal access and IRS monitoring. Its terms say buying the Discovery service enrolls you in that subscription automatically, with the first charge 30 days after your first payment; you can cancel in the portal, but there are no prorated refunds. Resolution, preparation and other services are priced in a Service Order, and its terms say fees already paid are nonrefundable unless that Service Order says otherwise.
Trustpilot reviewers describe paying roughly $900 to $6,000 and one reports a large cancellation charge the company later waived. Read the Service Order line by line and ask for refund terms in writing before you pay the resolution fee. The terms also require binding individual arbitration and waive class actions.
Got a "Notice of Tax Lien" letter from Tax Network USA?
Tax relief companies, including Tax Network USA before its 2025 settlement, mail people whose tax liens appear in public records. A letter from a private company is advertising, even if it mentions a lien, a judgment or a deadline. Real IRS notices come from the Department of the Treasury and carry a notice number such as CP14 or LT11. To check what you actually owe, sign in to your IRS online account or call the number on an official IRS notice, not the number on the mailer.
How Tax Network USA Works
Free Tax Expert Session
Tax Network USA starts with a free consultation where a licensed tax professional reviews the client’s total debt, filing status, and any unfiled returns, gathered through a short online questionnaire on the company’s site.
Protective Status and Records Review
The firm’s first step is to request protective status on the client’s behalf and pull the full tax record from the IRS or state agency, then conduct a financial analysis to determine the best resolution path.
Negotiation
Tax Network USA’s enrolled agents, CPAs, and tax attorneys negotiate directly with the taxing authority to establish compliance and pursue options such as 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, an Installment agreement. An IRS payment plan that lets you pay a balance over time. Compare tax relief companies, or Penalty abatement. The IRS removal of penalties for reasonable cause or a first-time issue. Compare tax relief companies.
Two-Phase Fee Structure
The company states clients understand their options in detail before paying any resolution fees, and that financing with no financing fees is available in Phase 2 on a pay-as-you-go basis.
What customers say about Tax Network USA
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Supportive, professional case managers
- Payment plans and debt reductions obtained for some clients
- Quick, affordable resolutions in simpler cases
Common complaints
- Automated phones, unanswered emails and missed callbacks
- Upfront fees of about $900 to $6,000 without visible results
- Repeated document requests after case manager changes
- Refused refunds and chargeback disputes
- Large cancellation charges
Tax Network USA complaints and reviews
Trustpilot shows 2.7 out of 5 from 175 reviews, with a split pattern: 56% five star, praising case managers and payment plans, and 37% one star. The one-star reviews describe automated phone menus, callbacks that never came, being asked for the same documents after each case manager change, fees of up to $6,000 with no visible result, and refunds refused. Many company replies say the reviewer’s case can’t be found and refer them to a quality assurance line. The BBB lists 164 complaints in three years.
What the IRS lets you do yourself
- Payment plans: individuals who owe $50,000 or less and have filed all returns can apply online for a $69 setup fee, or $29 with direct debit; short-term plans of 180 days or less have no setup fee.
- Offer in Compromise: $205 application fee plus a first payment, waived for low-income applicants; use the free IRS Pre-Qualifier first.
- Free help: Low Income Taxpayer Clinics and the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
No company can guarantee what the IRS will accept. The FTC warns against firms that charge large fees up front or promise to settle for a fraction of what you owe.
Who should skip Tax Network USA
Skip it if you can handle a payment plan yourself, if you need refundable fees, or if the 2025 mailer settlement makes you uneasy. If you do hire the firm, get the Service Order, the refund terms and the credential of the person signing your Form 2848 in writing, and cancel the $19.99 monthly subscription once your case closes.
Alternatives to Tax Network USA
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IRS Online Payment Agreement
If you owe $50,000 or less and have filed all returns, set up a long-term plan yourself for a $69 online fee, or $29 with direct debit.
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Taxpayer Advocate Service
The IRS's independent advocate office helps for free when IRS problems cause financial hardship or aren't resolved through normal channels.
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Fewer BBB complaints, a verifiable lead tax attorney and no government actions found.
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Low Income Taxpayer Clinic
Independent clinics represent eligible taxpayers for free or a small fee.
Next steps
Tax Network USA reviews
Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.
No reader reviews yet. If you have used Tax Network USA, yours will be the first.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Tax Network USA a scam?
No, it is a real BBB-accredited company with named staff. But it paid $400,000 in 2025 to settle a California case over mailers that looked like government notices, and it has 164 BBB complaints in three years.
Why did I get a tax lien letter from Tax Network USA?
Tax relief firms mail people whose liens appear in public records. A letter from Tax Network USA is marketing, not an IRS or county notice; check your balance through your IRS online account.
How much does Tax Network USA charge?
A $49.99 nonrefundable Discovery Fee to start, a $19.99 monthly TaxApp subscription, and resolution fees set in a Service Order. Reviewers report paying from about $900 to $6,000.
Can I get a refund from Tax Network USA?
Its policy says the Discovery Fee is nonrefundable and fees already paid are nonrefundable unless your Service Order says otherwise. Get any refund promise in writing.
What was the Tax Network USA settlement?
In August 2025, four California district attorneys announced a stipulated judgment requiring $400,000 in penalties and costs and banning government look-alike mailers. The company didn't admit liability.
Where is Tax Network USA located?
The BBB lists 15760 Ventura Blvd #1400, Encino, California 91436. It serves clients in all 50 states.
Does Tax Network USA have real tax attorneys?
It names a tax attorney and enrolled agents, and its FAQ refers to contracted tax attorneys. Ask for your representative's bar or enrolled agent number and verify it.
What is the TaxApp subscription?
A $19.99 a month portal and IRS monitoring service that starts automatically 30 days after you buy the Discovery service. Cancel in Settings; it ends at the close of the billing period with no prorated refund.
What is Tax Network USA's BBB rating?
A, accredited since November 2020, with 164 complaints in the last three years and 189 customer reviews as of October 2026.
Can I settle with the IRS without a company?
Yes. You can apply for a payment plan online and check Offer in Compromise eligibility with the free IRS Pre-Qualifier.
Sources (18)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Tax Network USA: Home page and FAQ (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Tax Network USA: About us (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Tax Network USA: Our team (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Tax Network USA: Cancellation policy (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Tax Network USA: Terms of use (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Trustpilot: Tax Network USA reviews (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Tax Network USA, Encino, CA (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Sonoma County District Attorney: Settlement of consumer protection lawsuit against Tax Network USA and Partners, Inc. (August 26, 2025) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- CFPB: Consumer complaint database search (accessed October 13, 2026)
- FTC: Trouble paying your taxes? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Payment plans (installment agreements) (accessed October 13, 2026)
- IRS: Offer in Compromise (accessed October 13, 2026)
- IRS: Taxpayer Advocate Service (accessed October 12, 2026)
- IRS: Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (accessed October 12, 2026)
- State Bar of California: Attorney licensee search (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Optima Tax Relief (accessed October 12, 2026)
- BBB: Tax Law Advocates (accessed October 13, 2026)
- BBB: Anthem Tax Services (accessed October 12, 2026)
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