IRS tax debt
You owe back taxes and need to understand the account, deadlines, and realistic ways to resolve the balance.
Tax help for individuals and businesses
Tax relief help when IRS debt, notices, or collection cannot wait
Tell ReliefGeek what is happening. We help you organize the problem, identify the facts and deadlines that matter, and understand the next practical step—without promising a settlement or forcing every case into the same program.
- Secure internal inquiry
- No guaranteed outcomes
- Do not include sensitive documents
Facts before promises
We do not guarantee reductions or IRS acceptance.
Issue-specific review
Notices, filings, finances, and deadlines shape the next step.
Options in context
Payment, hardship, compromise, and appeal paths have different requirements.
When to request help
Tax problems we can review through the help inquiry
The phrase “tax relief” covers many different problems. Your best next step depends on what the IRS or state says, what has been filed, what is being collected, and what evidence is available.
IRS notices and deadlines
You received a CP or LT notice and need help identifying what it means and what action may be due.
Levies, garnishments, or bank action
Collection activity is active or threatened and timing matters. Immediate relief is never guaranteed, but rapid issue review can be important.
Federal tax liens
A lien has been filed or may affect a sale, refinance, business, or credit decision.
Unfiled tax returns
Missing returns are blocking resolution or the IRS filed substitute returns using incomplete information.
Business or payroll taxes
Trust fund, payroll, or business liabilities require careful attention to responsible-person exposure and current compliance.
How it works
A clearer way to ask for tax relief help
Start with a concise inquiry. Do not upload tax documents or include account numbers, Social Security numbers, bank credentials, or other sensitive identifiers.
- 01
Tell us what is happening
Use the secure inquiry form to describe the tax agency, balance or notice, deadlines, collection activity, filing status, and your primary concern.
- 02
We review the issue
The first goal is to identify the type of problem, urgent dates, missing facts, and whether the inquiry is within our current scope.
- 03
Understand the next step
If a response is available, it should explain what information is still needed and what practical next action deserves attention.
Possible resolution paths
Tax relief is a process, not one program
Buyer-intent searches often focus on “settling” debt, but a credible review should compare every plausible route. The right path may involve payment, temporary hardship, corrected filings, penalty relief, an appeal, or a combination of actions.
For a book-length explanation of the process, see The Tax Relief Handbook.
Have a dated notice or active collection?
Include the notice number and response date in your inquiry. Do not wait for a website response if a legal or administrative deadline is imminent.
Installment agreement
A monthly payment arrangement may fit when the liability is correct, filings are current, and the required payment is manageable.
Currently Not Collectible status
The IRS may temporarily delay collection when paying would prevent a taxpayer from meeting allowable basic living expenses.
Offer in Compromise
Some taxpayers may settle for less than the full balance when the IRS accepts an offer based on collectibility, liability, or effective tax administration.
Penalty relief
Eligible penalties may be reduced through first-time abatement or reasonable-cause analysis, while tax and interest may remain.
Appeal or dispute
When liability or collection procedure is disputed, reconsideration, Collection Appeals, CDP, audit appeal, or court rights may matter.
Lien or levy response
Release, withdrawal, discharge, subordination, appeal, payment, or hardship procedures depend on the exact collection action and facts.
Hiring tax relief help: decide what work you need
A large balance alone does not tell you whom to hire. Ask prospective professionals to explain the work, responsibility, and fees for your specific situation before signing an engagement.
Active levy or wage garnishment
Ask who can assess the notice, available response rights, and deadlines. Confirm when they can begin. Do not wait for this inquiry form to stop collection; it cannot do that.
Back taxes and unfiled returns
Ask whether the quoted scope includes identifying required returns, preparing them, reviewing account records, and addressing the remaining balance—or whether these are separate engagements.
An unaffordable payment or proposed settlement
Ask what financial analysis is included, which alternatives will be compared, and what happens if the IRS rejects the proposed option. A sales estimate is not an IRS decision.
Before paying, verify the named professional through the relevant licensing or credential authority. Obtain a written scope, payment schedule, cancellation terms, and a clear explanation of who will communicate with the IRS. ReliefGeek does not currently match you with or endorse a provider through its inquiry form.
Review the tax-relief hiring checklistReady to explain your tax problem?
Send a secure inquiry to ReliefGeek. Include enough detail to understand the issue, but leave sensitive identifiers and documents out of the initial message.
Before you hire anyone
What credible tax relief help should clarify
What the IRS or state records currently show
Which returns are missing and which periods actually matter
Whether collection or appeal deadlines are active
What financial evidence is required
Which resolution paths were considered—and why
Who will perform the work and communicate with the agency
What the fee includes, excludes, and may cost later
How requested, submitted, approved, and implemented statuses will be documented
Tax relief help FAQ
Questions people ask before requesting help
What is tax relief help?
Tax relief help is assistance with diagnosing and resolving tax problems such as IRS debt, collection notices, levies, liens, missing returns, penalties, disputed liabilities, and unaffordable payments. It is not one government program or an automatic reduction of tax debt.
Can ReliefGeek help with back taxes?
You can send ReliefGeek a tax-help inquiry describing your back-tax issue. The website operator reviews inquiries directly. Submitting the form does not guarantee a response, representation, tax advice, or a particular result.
How do I know which tax relief option fits?
A responsible comparison usually requires account transcripts, filing compliance, collection deadlines, household finances, assets, equity, payment history, and the reason the liability exists. No option should be selected from balance size alone.
Can tax debt be settled for less than the full amount?
Sometimes. An IRS Offer in Compromise can settle qualifying liabilities for an accepted amount, but eligibility and offer value depend on verified facts and IRS rules. No firm can guarantee acceptance.
Can someone stop an IRS levy immediately?
The right response depends on the levy stage, deadline, financial hardship, compliance, and available appeal or collection procedures. Contacting the IRS or a qualified representative quickly may matter, but no website or provider should promise that collection has stopped without confirmation.
Do I need to file missing returns before getting tax relief?
Filing compliance is commonly required before the IRS will approve many collection alternatives. The correct filing scope can depend on IRS records and the facts of the case, so do not assume every unfiled year must be handled the same way.
How much does tax relief help cost?
Fees depend on the work required: transcript review, return preparation, financial analysis, negotiations, appeals, business-tax work, or ongoing monitoring. Ask for a written scope, who will perform the work, what is excluded, and when additional fees may apply.
What should I prepare before asking for help?
Gather recent IRS or state notices, tax years involved, an estimated balance, filing status, collection deadlines, prior agreements, monthly household income and expenses, major assets, and a short timeline. Do not send Social Security numbers, bank credentials, or tax documents through the initial form.
Is ReliefGeek a government agency?
No. ReliefGeek is not the IRS, a state tax agency, or a government program. The site provides independent tax-resolution education and a secure way to send an inquiry to the website operator.
What happens after I submit the help form?
Your inquiry is sent to the website operator for review. It is not currently routed to a marketplace of independent tax-relief companies. Submission does not create a professional-client relationship or guarantee a response.
Take the next step toward resolving your tax issue
Describe the problem, deadlines, and outcome you are seeking. Your inquiry goes to the ReliefGeek website operator for review.
ReliefGeek is not the IRS or a government agency. Submission does not guarantee a response, outcome, or professional-client relationship.