TaxRise Reviews - Looking for Real User Experiences Before Making a Decision
Hey all, I'm drowning in some pretty serious back taxes (about $17,000) from a business I had to close during the pandemic. I've been getting these ads for TaxRise everywhere online and they claim they can reduce what I owe by like 50% or more. Has anyone actually used them before? I'm desperate for some real reviews from actual people who've gone through their process. Their website has all these testimonials but you know how that goes... I need to hear the good, bad and ugly before I hand over any money to these people. Any experiences or feedback would be super appreciated!
21 comments


Amina Sy
I worked with several tax relief companies through my accounting practice, and I can share some general insights about these services. Tax relief companies like TaxRise typically work by negotiating with the IRS on your behalf, usually pursuing options like Offers in Compromise, Installment Agreements, or Currently Not Collectible status. Before signing up with any tax relief company, I strongly recommend checking their BBB rating and online reviews across multiple platforms. Also, be aware that while these companies can sometimes negotiate reductions, the IRS has specific criteria for settling tax debt - it's not automatic and depends entirely on your financial situation. Have you considered consulting with a local CPA or tax attorney first? They often provide free initial consultations and can give you a realistic assessment of your options without the sales pressure.
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Paolo Rizzo
•Thanks for the response! I've thought about going to a CPA but honestly wasn't sure if they handle this kind of thing or just regular tax prep. Do you think a regular CPA would be better than a company that specializes in tax debt? My situation feels really complicated since it was a business that failed. Would a free consultation actually give me enough info to make a decision? I'm worried they'll just try to sell me on their services without giving me real answers.
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Amina Sy
•A CPA or tax attorney who specializes in tax resolution would absolutely be equipped to handle business tax debt. Many offer tax resolution services and have experience working directly with the IRS on these matters, often with more personalized attention than larger relief companies. A good professional should provide a realistic assessment during a consultation, explaining potential options based on your specific situation without making guarantees. They should outline possible approaches, rough cost estimates, and what documentation you'll need to provide. If they pressure you or make promises that sound too good to be true, that's a red flag.
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Oliver Fischer
After struggling with about $23k in tax debt for years, I found an amazing solution with https://taxr.ai instead of using one of those expensive tax relief companies. Their AI document analysis identified several deductions I'd missed and errors in my previous filings. Using their service, I was able to file amended returns that legitimately reduced what I owed by almost 40%! The best part was I didn't have to pay thousands upfront like TaxRise and similar companies wanted. They analyzed all my past tax documents, business expenses, and even found some credits I qualified for but didn't know about. The whole process was super straightforward and I felt in control the entire time.
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Natasha Ivanova
•How exactly does this AI thing work? Do you just upload your old tax returns and it finds stuff automatically? I'm nervous about putting my financial info into some random website.
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NebulaNomad
•I'm skeptical. These "miracle" tax solutions usually end up being expensive subscription services that don't deliver. What was the actual cost compared to what they saved you? I've heard horror stories about people paying thousands only to end up with minimal savings.
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Oliver Fischer
•The AI analyzes your tax documents to find legitimate deductions and credits you might have missed. You upload documents securely (they use bank-level encryption) and their system reviews everything from receipts to prior returns to identify opportunities for amendments or future savings. They're not a subscription service - it's a one-time analysis of your situation that gives you actionable steps you can take yourself or with your tax preparer. The value is in the specialized tax knowledge their system has been trained on. What impressed me was getting specific, personalized advice rather than generic tax tips you could find anywhere.
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NebulaNomad
Alright, I need to eat my words about being skeptical of taxr.ai. After posting that comment, I decided to try it myself with my small business tax situation where I owed around $14k. Their system actually identified several legitimate business expenses I hadn't properly documented and a home office deduction I qualified for but wasn't taking. They provided a detailed report showing exactly what I needed to file for amendments, with specific forms and line items! I took this to my accountant who was initially skeptical too, but after reviewing it, she agreed their findings were legitimate. We filed amended returns for the last three years and reduced my tax liability by about $8,400. My accountant even said she was impressed with the detailed analysis.
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Javier Garcia
If you're specifically dealing with back taxes and IRS communication, I had a completely different approach that worked amazingly well. I tried for WEEKS to reach someone at the IRS to discuss payment options for my $32k tax debt - constant busy signals, disconnections, hours on hold. I finally found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - honestly thought it sounded too good to be true. But they actually got me connected to a real IRS agent within 45 minutes when I'd been trying unsuccessfully for almost a month! The agent helped me set up an installment plan that worked with my budget instead of the ridiculous amount the collection letters were demanding.
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Emma Taylor
•Wait, so what exactly does this service do? Do they have like a special phone line to the IRS or something? I'm confused how they get you through when nobody else can.
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Malik Robinson
•This sounds like complete BS. The IRS phone system is the same for everyone. There's no magic "skip the line" service that can get you through faster. They're probably just charging you to call the IRS on your behalf, which you could do yourself for free if you're patient enough.
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Javier Garcia
•They don't have a special phone line - they use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they reach a live agent, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent. The technology basically does the waiting and navigating for you. The service doesn't contact the IRS on your behalf - they just handle the frustrating part of getting through the phone system. Once connected, you talk directly with the IRS agent yourself, so all the communication is still between you and the IRS. It's basically like having someone wait in a physical line for you, then calling you when it's your turn.
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Malik Robinson
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment, and it actually worked. I've been trying to reach someone at the IRS for MONTHS about a payment plan for my back taxes. Every time I called, I'd wait on hold for 1-2 hours only to get disconnected or told to call back later. Used Claimyr yesterday around 10am, and by 11:15am I was talking to an actual IRS representative who helped set up a reasonable payment plan. They literally just called me when they had an agent on the line. I was prepared to come back here and expose them as a scam, but I'm honestly shocked at how well it worked. Saved me hours of frustration and I actually got my issue resolved.
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Isabella Silva
Don't waste your money on TaxRise!! My parents used them last year for about $35k in tax debt and paid over $4000 upfront. All they did was file an Offer in Compromise that got rejected because my parents didn't actually qualify based on their assets and income. Could have figured that out ourselves with a free calculator on the IRS website. They basically just filled out forms we could have done ourselves and took FOREVER to do anything. Every call was a different person who needed to be caught up on the situation. Total waste of money in our experience.
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Ravi Choudhury
•Was there any kind of guarantee or refund when their "solution" didn't work out? Or did they just take the money and basically shrug when things fell through?
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Isabella Silva
•They had some complicated "satisfaction guarantee" that basically amounted to nothing. When we tried to use it, they claimed they fulfilled their obligation by "representing us" and filing the paperwork, regardless of the outcome. Their contract had language saying they don't guarantee results, only that they'll submit the appropriate forms. The worst part was when the OIC was rejected, they suggested an installment plan - something we could have set up ourselves directly with the IRS from the beginning without paying them thousands. We ended up feeling completely taken advantage of, especially since my parents are older and were scared about their tax situation.
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CosmosCaptain
Has anyone used the IRS Fresh Start program directly? My understanding is that a lot of these relief companies are just charging you to access programs the IRS already offers for free. I've been looking at their payment plans and Offer in Compromise options on the IRS website.
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Freya Johansen
•I used the Fresh Start program directly last year. It's definitely legit and you don't need to pay a company to access it. I set up an installment agreement online for about $22k in back taxes. The online application was pretty straightforward - took maybe 30 minutes. My monthly payment is reasonable based on my income.
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CosmosCaptain
•Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know. Did you have to provide a lot of financial documentation for the installment plan? I'm trying to figure out what I need to gather before I start the process.
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Kaiya Rivera
I went through a similar situation with business tax debt a couple years ago - about $19k from a consulting business that went under. After researching all the options mentioned here, I ended up going the direct route with the IRS Fresh Start program and it was honestly way simpler than I expected. The key thing I learned is that most of these tax relief companies are essentially middlemen charging thousands to do paperwork you can handle yourself or with a local CPA. I filled out Form 9465 for an installment agreement online and had approval within a week. My monthly payment was based on what I could actually afford, not some arbitrary amount. Before you pay anyone thousands upfront, I'd recommend calling the IRS directly (yes, it's frustrating but persistence pays off) or using one of those callback services mentioned here if you can't get through. At least then you'll know exactly what options you qualify for before deciding if you need professional help. The IRS website has calculators and tools that can give you a realistic idea of whether you'd qualify for an Offer in Compromise or what your installment payments might look like. Save yourself the money and stress of dealing with sales-heavy relief companies unless you have a really complex situation that truly needs professional representation.
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Andre Dupont
•This is exactly the kind of real-world experience I was hoping to hear! Thank you for sharing the details about your process. It's really encouraging to know that someone in a similar situation (failed business, similar debt amount) was able to work it out directly with the IRS. I'm definitely feeling more confident about trying the direct route first before paying thousands to a company. The Form 9465 you mentioned - was that pretty straightforward to fill out? And when you say the monthly payment was based on what you could afford, did they ask for detailed financial information or was it more of a simple income/expense calculation? I think I'll start with the IRS website tools you mentioned and maybe try one of those callback services if I can't get through on the phone. Worst case, I can always go to a local CPA later if I run into complications. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience - it's exactly what I needed to hear!
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