Tax Relief AnswersHow We Make Money: Advertising Disclosure
The short version
This site is free to read. It is paid by some of the tax relief companies it links to: when a reader clicks a labeled link and contacts one of those companies, the company may pay us. Payment from those companies is the only way the site earns money. Before any company's link appears, its exact payment terms (for example a fee per contact, or a fee that depends on the size of the balance) are listed on this page. We do not sell tax services, and the IRS pays us nothing.
Exactly how it works
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who pays us | Tax relief companies that have an affiliate or lead program and whose terms we have read |
| When | When a reader clicks a labeled link and submits a contact request or calls, depending on the company |
| How much | Set by each company's agreement and listed here before its link appears. No company is linked yet |
| What it changes | Nothing in the information. Program rules, fees and deadlines come from IRS.gov and the law, not from any company |
| Where links appear | Only in a clearly marked box that comes after the free options on the same page, with a "Paid link" label |
| What we do not do | We do not accept payment to say a company is good, to rank one above another, or to remove criticism |
Why free options come first
In many cases you do not need to pay anyone. The IRS lets you apply for a payment plan online at no charge, Low Income Taxpayer Clinics represent qualifying people for free or for a small fee, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service is a free office inside the IRS for problems you cannot resolve otherwise. Every page that mentions companies lists those three options first, because that is the order we would want for our own families.
How to check a company yourself
Only enrolled agents, CPAs and attorneys can represent you before the IRS. Before paying any company, ask who will handle your case, check that person in the IRS directory of credentialed preparers, and read the FTC's page on tax relief companies. Federal telemarketing rules forbid debt relief services sold by phone from charging a fee before they deliver a result.
Questions
Write to the address on the contact page. We answer questions about funding, and we publish corrections.