Tax Debt Resolution
Behind on Taxes? Let's Find Your Way Forward.
IRS and state tax debt does not go away on its own, but it is fixable. We start with a Compliance Analysis so you know exactly where you stand, then we put the resolution in place that your account actually supports.
Not ready yet? Take the free Tax Debt DiagnosticWatch first
How Tax Debt Resolution works.
A short walk-through of what we do, the one form you sign to start, and what happens after you enroll.
- What we do
- The one form you sign to start
- What happens after you enroll
Who this is for
If any of this sounds familiar, you are in the right place.
How it works
Three steps. No guessing.
Pick Personal, Business or Preparer Penalty and pay the Compliance Analysis fee at checkout. Right after payment you complete the full intake form for your case type.
We prepare your Form 8821, pull and review your IRS account transcripts, and confirm what is owed, what is unfiled, and what collection activity is active. You receive written findings and a recommended plan.
We put the recommended plan in place. Depending on your account that may be an installment agreement, penalty relief, currently not collectible status, an Offer in Compromise, or another option.
Start your case
Choose the case that fits you.
Each case type has its own checkout and its own intake form. Your Compliance Analysis fee is shown at checkout before you pay.
Personal
Personal
Tax debt in your own name. Choose the taxing authority you owe.
Owe both? The Federal + State bundle costs less than buying the two separately.
Business
Business
Business tax debt, including payroll taxes and Trust Fund Recovery Penalty exposure.
Preparer Penalty
Preparer Penalty
For tax professionals facing proposed IRS preparer or practitioner penalties. A separate, confidential service.
Not sure which one fits, or not ready to enroll? Book a free 30-minute consultation, or take the free Tax Debt Diagnostic and get a general read on your situation by email. Both are optional.
What it costs
Two phases, priced separately.
Phase 1
Compliance Analysis
A flat fee for your case type, shown at checkout before you pay. This covers preparing your Form 8821, obtaining and reviewing your IRS account, and delivering written findings with a recommended plan. You are not committed to Phase 2.
Phase 2
Resolution Service
Quoted in writing in your engagement letter based on your verified tax balance and the work required. Nothing is charged for Phase 2 until you have reviewed and signed that engagement letter.
No one can price a resolution honestly before seeing your IRS account. That is the entire reason Phase 1 exists.If a company quotes you a resolution fee before pulling your transcripts, ask them how they arrived at it.
IRS authorization
You sign one form to start. Just one.
- Form 8821We will prepare Form 8821 with the appropriate tax matters and periods for your Compliance Analysis. Please review the completed authorization, sign it, and upload it as instructed. Form 8821 allows us to obtain and review your IRS information but does not authorize representation. If representation becomes necessary, we will provide Form 2848 for your review and signature.
- A wet signature is requiredPlease print the completed form, sign it by hand in ink, and scan or photograph it back to us. Typed names, digital signatures and e-signatures are not accepted on IRS authorization forms.
- No notarizationNo notarization is required for the federal forms.
- We complete the form firstWe will never ask you to sign a blank authorization. The designee, tax matters and periods are filled in before it reaches you.
Important collection notices
If you receive a notice giving you Collection Due Process (CDP) rights, upload it immediately. You generally have 30 days from the date of the notice to timely request a CDP hearing. If a CDP request is needed, we will explain the next steps and any separate service fee. A hearing does not guarantee a particular outcome.
After you enroll
What happens next.
It contains your full intake form, your service agreement, and your completed Form 8821 to review and hand-sign.
Your documents and signed forms are uploaded through the secure portal, not by regular email.
Once your signed 8821 is on file we request your IRS transcripts and begin the review. You are told what we find, in writing.
Questions
Straight answers
Will this stop a levy or garnishment?
Not automatically. Certain filings and requests can pause collection activity, and some cannot. We will tell you what your account actually supports once we have reviewed it rather than promising it up front.
Do I need to sign a Form 2848?
Not to get started. You sign only Form 8821. If representation becomes necessary, we will send you Form 2848 with the specific matters and periods filled in and explain exactly why it is needed.
Do the forms need to be notarized?
No. The federal authorization forms do not require notarization. They do require a handwritten signature.
What if I owe a state too?
Choose State or the Federal + State bundle when you start a Personal case, and tell us which state on your intake form. State authorizations differ from the federal forms, so our team sends you the correct one for your state.
What if I have years that were never filed?
We identify every missing year during the Compliance Analysis. Preparing those returns is quoted separately so you are never surprised by a bill.
Can you guarantee an Offer in Compromise?
No, and neither can anyone else. Acceptance depends on IRS determinations about your income, expenses, assets and compliance history. We will tell you honestly whether you are a realistic candidate.
Do I have to come into an office?
No. The entire process is handled remotely through secure uploads, email and scheduled calls.
Can I talk to someone before I enroll?
Yes. Book a free 30-minute consultation and we will help you choose the right case type. You can also take the free Tax Debt Diagnostic for a general read on your situation by email.
Get started
Find out exactly where you stand.
Choose your case type to enroll. If you would rather talk first, book a free 30-minute consultation.
Fresh Start Business Service provides tax preparation and tax resolution services. We do not provide legal advice, and nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. Form 8821 authorizes us to receive and review your tax information; it does not authorize representation before the IRS. Results depend on your individual facts and on determinations made by the IRS and applicable state authorities. No particular outcome is guaranteed. The Phase 1 fee is shown at checkout before you pay, and the Phase 2 fee is quoted in writing in your engagement letter before any Phase 2 work begins. The free consultation and the free diagnostic are general information only and are not tax advice.