Tax Resolution Firms: Ideal Tax Review

Ideal Tax: An Overview

The experts at Ideal Tax is a tax resolution company that was founded in 2010 in Orange County, California. For the past 12 years, Ideal Tax has been assisting clients from all over the nation in finding a resolution to their serious tax problems. With the goal of providing individualized strategies that allow the clients to save as much money as possible, this tax resolution and mediation company specialize in reducing tax debts, removing wage garnishments, removing bank liens, removing bank levies, securing tax debt relief options, and also, assisting with tax audits.

What To Look For In A Tax Relief Company

Tax relief companies aim to help clients reduce their tax debts and achieve good standing with the IRS. While there is an abundance of free information available online about tax laws, the IRS, and tax relief options, many people wish to seek the help of tax experts that can guide them through the process.

If you are considering utilizing tax relief companies to help you resolve your tax problems, there are certain factors you should evaluate to determine if the company will be a good fit. Below, we will outline some key qualities of a tax resolution firm and identify if Ideal Tax complies with the qualifications.

• Company Accreditation

Company accreditation is important because it allows customers to learn if a company is reputable before investing their money. Some companies that are involved in accrediting businesses that Ideal Tax have received accreditations from include:

• Better Business Bureau

The BBB is a non-profit organization that is providing dedicated services to the community by focusing on marketplace trust. Ideal Tax is a BBB-accredited business with a BBB rating of A+.

• Best Company

Best company is an organization dedicated to connecting consumers with the best company to fit their needs by providing honest reviews that are easily accessible.

• Business Consumer Alliance

BCA aims to promote company self-regulation by assigning letter grades to a company so consumers can connect confidently with a company that they can trust.

• Licensed Tax Professionals

As with any service, it is important to know that the advisors within tax resolution companies are qualified to be advising you through the process of resolving your tax issue. Some of the licensed tax professionals at Ideal Tax who can help individuals through the whole process of finding tax relief include:

• Tax Attorneys
• Certified Public Accountants (CPAs)
• Enrolled Agents

Additionally, on the Ideal Tax website, it is mentioned that some of their staff are ex-IRS agents, providing direct insider knowledge that could help people find a resolution to their tax issues. Knowing that the tax consultants advising you through the negotiating process with the IRS as your case manager are licensed and experienced is a reassuring factor that could indicate this is a reputable company to work with.

• Comprehensive Tax Relief Services

Not all tax resolution is the same, so if you are looking to negotiate your tax debt with the help of professional tax managers, it is important that they provide superior customer service through a comprehensive range of tax services. According to their website, the tax services provided by Ideal Tax Solution include:

• • IRS Fresh Start Program
  • Amending Tax Returns
  • Back Taxes
  • Currently Non-Collectible Status
  • Installment Agreement and IRS Payment Plans
  • Penalty Abatement
  • Tax Audits
  • Trust Fund Recovery Penalty
  • Tax Relief
  • Asset Protection
  • Bank Levy
  • Innocent Spouse Tax Relief
  • Offer in Compromise
  • Seizure
  • Tax Lien Subordination
  • Wage Garnishments

• IRS Forgiveness Program

• Transparent Pricing Information

People seek out the help of tax relief companies due to the financial burden of not being able to pay their tax debt. For this reason, it may feel like a big risk for a person to invest all the money in a tax resolution program such as Ideal Tax, when they could have put that money toward paying their tax debt directly.

The benefit of utilizing a tax relief company like Ideal Tax is the potential to save significantly more money than if you were to negotiate with the IRS personally. However, how can you know if it is worth the investment if you do not know how much the services of a tax relief company cost?

One of the biggest downsides of Ideal Tax is that their website fails to include transparent pricing information that lets potential clients know how much their services cost. Sometimes a company charges by the hour, the service, or take a percentage of the total tax debt owed, but when it comes to Ideal Tax, that pricing determinant is unclear.

• Timeline of Action

Whenever getting involved with a new company and learning about its services, it is beneficial to know the timeline of its process. Tax issues can have serious consequences, including having bank accounts frozen, wages garnished, or even assets seized. If clients are at risk of losing everything they owe, it is imperative that the tax resolution process begins as soon as possible. At the very least, if a client is considering hiring a tax relief company to help them, it would be comforting to have a general idea of what to expect.

The Ideal Tax website does not include any mention of the timeline of action, so if a person were to recommend Ideal Tax as a service provider, they would need to ask them about the timeline of action during the consultation or reach out to them through their website and ask.

• Refund Policy

If a company offers a refund policy, people will feel much more confident in taking a chance on their services because they know that if it does not work out the way they expected, they have the opportunity to get their money back.

According to the IRS website, Ideal Tax offers a money-back guarantee if requested within 48 hours of signing the contract.

• Minimum Debt Requirement

Depending on the individual circumstance, it may be important for a person to evaluate if they fall within the minimum debt requirements of tax resolution companies. Some companies do not have a minimum debt requirement, while many require a minimum debt of $10,000.

Ideal Tax, according to third-party websites, have a minimum debt requirement of $7,500, which is comparably reasonable.

• Customer Reviews and Testimonials

Customer reviews and testimonials are one of the most reliable ways to determine if a company is reputable and if it would be a good fit for their situation. Most businesses will have both positive and negative reviews, and it is beneficial to see what other clients have experienced before investing in services.

Ideal Tax has been reviewed across multiple review platforms as well as including testimonials on their website. Across the board, the company seems to have an average rating of 3.0 to 5.0 stars, making it one of the better options on the market for a tax resolution company.

Process of Working With Ideal Tax Solution

On the homepage of the Ideal Tax website, there is a 4-step process outlined that describes how a client could get involved with the company as a way to find the best resolution for their tax problem. Here are the four steps along with a description of how they may or may not benefit the client:

1.     Free Consultation

The first step when collaborating with Ideal Tax is meeting with a case manager for a free consultation. During this meeting, the client can disclose what they are looking for in the service, ask questions about Ideal Tax, and learn how the company may help them achieve a favorable settlement. If the client is prepared with all of the documentation that allows the tax analyst to evaluate their specific situation and if they will be a good fit, it could be a productive meeting that determines a game plan for moving forward.

The opportunity to meet for a free consultation is a relatively unique aspect that sets Ideal Tax apart from other tax relief companies. Many tax professionals, such as a tax attorney, will charge their hourly rate of $100+ just for the consultation, which will not overall result in a resolved tax issue for the client. The opportunity to meet with a tax representative free of charge establishes confidence in the agency and makes them feel happier to place the investment knowing what the plan is.

Most people looking for help from a tax attorney or tax professional are struggling financially already, so to risk a pricy consultation that may not help them could be deterring. Therefore, a free consultation is a valuable offering by Ideal Tax.

2.     Instant Protection

The second step of the Ideal Tax process after the client has committed to the services is for Ideal Tax to file a stay of enforcement on the client’s behalf. Once this is applied, the IRS will be unable to collect tax payments, freeze their accounts, or seize a person’s assets because they are aware that the client is working toward a long-term tax solution. The formal name for this “instant protection” is known as currently non-collectible (CNC) status.

While this sounds intriguing for the client to “instantly” receive this protection, the way this is worded on the Ideal Tax website is slightly misleading. The first misleading aspect is that there are prerequisites that determine if a taxpayer is eligible for CNC status. The IRS must determine the client is unable to reasonably pay their tax debts before they will agree to place CNC status on their account. Furthermore, Ideal Tax neglects to mention on this homepage that interest and penalties on the tax debt will continue to accrue even while there is a CNC status on the account. Finally, the protection by CNC status is not “instant,” as the client has to wait for the IRS to approve the request.

Nevertheless, there are several free resources on other areas of their website that detail CNC status and other forms of tax relief, so with further research, the client can understand what Ideal Tax was referring to with instant protection.

3.     Investigate

The third step of the Ideal Tax process is the tax investigation. With the goal of helping their clients save the most money, the tax experts will analyze all aspects of the case to determine the most efficient and effective strategy to reduce their tax liability. If you have ever tried to read articles on the IRS website, you will know that the technical language surrounding taxes is difficult to understand for people who do not come from a tax background. If you feel the same, then hiring a company like Ideal Tax can be an asset in helping you resolve your tax debts.

While it is beneficial to have case managers from a company like Ideal Tax to help advocate for you during the negotiation process with the IRS, it is important to remember that your financial information and tax history will be the ultimate indicator of what form of tax relief you may qualify for. No matter how persuasive a company representative may be on your behalf, the final decision depends on the numbers.

4.     Resolution

The final step of the 4-step process is the application of the tax resolutions. After determining what is the best course of action for resolving your tax debts, whether that is through a payment plan or settling with an offer in compromise, the Ideal Tax representative will present the plan and guide you through the rest of the process until everything is taken care of.

Having a case manager to clarify things, answer questions, and ensure you are optimizing your tax resolution strategy can be extremely reassuring, however, if you did not want to invest in a tax relief company like Ideal Tax, it is reasonable that you could achieve the same outcome by yourself.

Is Ideal Tax A Good Tax Relief Company?

Now that you have learned what to look for in a tax relief company and how Ideal Tax operates, it is time to consider if they are overall a beneficial company in helping people resolve their unpaid tax debts. Here is a summary of the benefits of Ideal Tax as well as some of the drawbacks:

Benefits of Ideal Tax 

• Ideal Tax is a BBB-accredited company with an A+ rating that has been serving clients for over 12 years.
• The staff at Ideal Tax is made up of licensed tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents that are experienced in finding optimal tax solutions.
• Ideal Tax offers a variety of comprehensive tax relief services, including tax audit representation, wage garnishment, bank levy, bank lien, penalty abatement, innocent spouse relief for those who filed jointly, offer in compromise, installment agreement, and more.
• Ideal Tax offers clients their money back if they request a refund within 48 hours of signing the contract.
• Ideal Tax has a minimum debt requirement of $7,500.
• Ideal Tax has received a majority of positive reviews and testimonials across multiple different review platforms, including Google Reviews and Best Company.
• Ideal Tax offers a free consultation before putting any payments down toward their program, allowing clients to learn more about how Ideal Tax can help them without the risk of losing money.

Drawbacks of Ideal Tax 

• While the website describes what services they provide, Ideal Tax neglects to mention the pricing for their services, so clients cannot learn how much they will have to pay until they have committed to the free consultation.
• The Ideal Tax website does not include any mention of a timeline of action for their services, so if an individual wanted to utilize Ideal Tax’s services, they would need to inquire about the timeline of action either during the free consultation or by reaching out via e-mail or phone call.
• In the 4-step process that is outlined on the Ideal Tax website, they neglect to outline the details about CNC status. Furthermore, the website does not disclose that the process of gaining that protection is not instant, and only qualifying individuals will be able to receive that protection once the IRS has reviewed and approved their case.

Based on these factors, individuals and small businesses should be able to determine if they think Ideal Tax will be a good fit for their situation and if they want to receive help in reducing their tax debts or approach the situation alone.