Help with tax debt issues - any reliable company recommendations besides Optima?

I worked for the IRS for 12 years and now help people navigate tax issues. Let me save you some money - you probably don't need a tax relief company for a $14,500 debt. These companies often charge thousands for services you can do yourself for free. The IRS has several options: payment plans (installment agreements), Offer in Compromise (settling for less), or Currently Not Collectible status if you're facing financial hardship. You can set up a payment plan directly on irs.gov for debts under $50,000. The application takes about 15 minutes. If your situation is more complex (liens, levies, etc.), consider hiring a local Enrolled Agent or CPA who specializes in tax resolution. They typically charge a flat fee of $1,000-$2,500 depending on complexity - much less than national tax relief companies who often start at $3,000-$5,000 and go up from there.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year with about $19k in tax debt and countless sleepless nights. After researching options for weeks, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my approach. Instead of paying thousands to a tax relief company, their AI analyzed my tax situation and showed me exactly what relief programs I qualified for and the steps to apply myself. The tool reviewed my income, expenses, and tax documents, then created a personalized action plan. For me, it recommended an installment agreement with specific monthly payment amounts based on my financial situation. It even generated the exact forms I needed to submit. I ended up saving over $4,000 compared to what Optima quoted me!

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing this comment and it was honestly a game-changer. I was about to sign with a relief company for $3,500, but decided to give this a shot first. The AI analyzed my finances and showed I qualified for an Offer in Compromise that could settle my $22k debt for around $4,800. The system walked me through every step, from completing Form 656 to calculating a reasonable offer amount based on my specific financial situation. It even pointed out deductions I could legally take on my 433-A form that I would've missed. My offer was accepted last week! The whole process took about 3 months, and I only paid for the AI service, not thousands to a middleman.

I had a nightmare experience trying to call the IRS about my tax debt - literally spent hours on hold only to get disconnected, MULTIPLE TIMES. Finally, I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which was a total lifesaver. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically, their system waits on hold with the IRS for you, then calls you when an actual agent picks up. I was skeptical but desperate after wasting an entire day trying to get through. Within about 90 minutes, I got a call back and was connected to an IRS agent! I explained my situation and got on a reasonable payment plan that same day. The IRS agent was actually super helpful once I finally got through to them. They explained all my options way better than any website could, and I felt so much relief after the call.

I need to eat my words and apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr. After my snarky comment, I decided to try it myself because I've been trying to resolve an issue with a tax lien for WEEKS without getting through to anyone. The service actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 2 hours and was connected to an IRS agent who helped clear up my situation. The agent told me I qualified for a partial release of the lien based on my current financial situation - something I would never have known without speaking directly to someone. I've been beating my head against the wall trying to get this resolved, and in one phone call I made more progress than in the previous month of attempts. Just wanted to share since I was so wrong in my initial reaction.

Just want to add that I used Optima last year and regretted it. They charged me $4,000 to set up a payment plan I could have done myself online in 15 minutes. They weren't upfront about their fees at all - kept talking about how they'd "fight for me" against the IRS, but in reality they just filled out the same forms I could have. Save your money and either DIY with the resources others have mentioned or hire a local tax pro who will charge you a reasonable flat fee. These national tax relief companies make their money from people who are scared and don't realize there are cheaper options.

I'm a CPA and want to echo what the former IRS employee said. For a debt of $14,500, you have several DIY options that will save you thousands. If you're comfortable with basic forms, you can handle this yourself. If not, most local tax pros will charge $500-1,000 for uncomplicated cases, which is much less than national firms. The national tax relief companies spend millions on advertising, and guess who pays for those ads? Their clients. Local professionals rely more on referrals and repeat business, so they tend to charge more reasonable fees.