Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/10/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I was told by the *** in spring of 2024 that I had a balance owed of $6,939. I called TRA. I signed an agreement for $3,895 to negotiate this to potentially nothing. This agreement is paid in full.I received a letter in December 2024 from the *** stating I then owed $7,385.34 On February 5th, I got notice from TRA that my amended tax return was filed with the *** for 2022 with a $22 balance,I filed my federal taxes and was due a refund of $3715. The *** kept it.I have now paid $7,610, more than I owed, even in December.Then, I started getting emails and calls from the company. The subject? "Welcome Call" I didn't trust it because why would I need a welcome call from a company I have worked with for almost a year and paid thousands to. I got emails and texts. They said they needed more documentation, but didn't tell me what was needed? I was very confused. I replied to everything, texts, emails, and even called and left messages asking what was needed and why? It wasn't until February 27th I got an email of what was requested. I made an appointment with the company on February 28th, we connected, and my stomach fell further.I'm now being told that nothing has been negotiated, the *** can keep my refund and now TRA will "try to negotiate down" the "rest" of what I owe. What?!?!?!?! I have now paid MORE than I owed in the first place and this still isn't resolved.I feel like I have been scammed. They took my money and so did the ***. And I'm worse off. I have requested a refund and was told that is not possible at this time, and that I may need to enter into a payment plan with the ***. WHY?!?!?!I have paid thousands out of pocket that could have paid off my debt, but now I still owe thousands. I am awaiting a response from TRA, and will be consulting with a consumer lawyer if I don't have a quality response by the end of this week.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/17/2025

  Hello *****,
  
  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention; we take it very seriously. We have confirmed that you have been in communication with a member of our team regarding your concerns. We have made a concerted effort to explain the status of your case, the services we have provided thus far, and the processing times with the ***. We understand that dealing with tax matters can be quite frustrating, and we are committed to fully addressing your situation. 
  
  To clarify, when our clients transition from tax preparation to the resolution phase of their case, our case advocates typically conduct a "welcome call." This call is designed to introduce the next phase of the process, where we confirm compliance with the *** and our tax professionals review all available options. We understand that this may seem redundant since you are already an ongoing client; however, it is a standard part of our process.
  
  If you have any additional questions or need further clarification, please dont hesitate to reach out at ************************* We appreciate your patience as we work towards a resolution.
  
  Best regards,  
  Client Relations Team
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/07/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Tax Relief Advocates radio ads claim that they can "reduce or eliminate your tax debt or you pay nothing". They charged me $4350 to take on my case a year and a half ago. To this date they have been unable to provide any tax relief and now when I am demanding a refund they are offering me $1500 to be paid over 3 months. I was led to believe that if TRA could not "reduce or eliminate" my tax debt, then I would pay NOTHING. That is false advertising.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/14/2025

  Hello ******,
  
  We take all reviews very seriously and are committed to resolving any concerns our clients may have. After thoroughly reviewing your case, we can confirm that we have been in communication with you regarding your concerns and refund request.
  
  Please get back to us at your earliest convenience so we can proceed with the final refund amount presented. Please note that in your case, we have presented resolution options and rendered services on your behalf, so the refund is based on the scope of services provided.
  
  If you have any additional questions or would like further clarification, please feel free to contact us directly at *******************************.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/15/2025

  I hear the ads on the radio every day. "Tax Relief Advocates can reduce or eliminate your tax debt or you pay nothing." That is a false claim. *** charged me $4350 to waste a year and a half of my time. *** was unable to "reduce or eliminate" my tax debt. The "solution" they offered wasn't a solution at all. I expected TRA to "reduce or eliminate" my tax issue but the solutions they offered would only cost me even more. In the end I solved the problem myself without any help from TRA. It cost me a large chunk of my *** but the issue is resolved, no thanks to Tax Relief Advocates. Not only were they unable to secure any relief, but they also filed my 2023 tax return 5 months late which cost me even more! 

  Employing TRA to handle my tax issue was a complete waste of time and money. They should have known by looking at the data I provided that the *** would not offer me any relief due to my "disposable income". They should have advised me that the best they could do was put me on a payment plan that would take years to pay off and cost me much more than I originally owed, They could have done this a year ago, 

  Tax Relief Advocates was employed by me as a direct result of their false advertising. They promise to "reduce or eliminate" tax debt or you pay nothing. There is no mention of any qualifiers like "unless you have disposable income" or "If we are unable to secure relief, we will charge you for the scope of work completed". The advertised claim is very clear, but demonstrably false. I would like TRA to live up to their advertised claims and give me a full refund.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/24/2025

  Dear *******,
  
  As mentioned previously, we take all concerns seriously and have thoroughly reviewed your file. We have verified that our team has made multiple attempts to contact you regarding your concerns and provide clarification.
  
  To assist you further, we recommend referring to the contract agreement, specifically bullet point 4 under the "Tax Investigation" section, where the details of the money-back guarantee are clearly outlined.
  
  We have confirmed that a refund for your case has been approved. We kindly ask that you contact us at your earliest convenience so we can assist you further. If it's more convenient, you may also reach us at *******************************.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:03/03/2025

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  Set up for tax relief, paid the down payment, never heard from them again. Have tried multiple times to get in touch with ***** and he is never available. **************** can't help. "Just call their direct line."

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/07/2025

  Hello *********,
  
  After reviewing your file, weve confirmed that multiple attempts have been made to reach you without success. We are eager to assist you and would appreciate the opportunity to speak with you directly. Please reach out at your earliest convenience.
  
  If you have any further questions or concerns, dont hesitate to contact us at *******************************.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/27/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  had a small business an got a LLC in 2022. had not filed personally for years in May 2022 prepaid $3500. hired them to active bookkeep in 2022 for company prepaid $1000. busy summer Sept no bookkeeper, not answg, qurtly tax chk? they said no. Jan heart fails, get out of hospital March homeless, irs fines, no disability payments because didn't pay quarly tax,still none& no refunds. I have 2 other issues as well, ***** and SG homecare. at the minimum file complaints and an idea what is what so I have an idea where to get more help

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/06/2025

  Hello *****,
  
  After reviewing our records, we found that your case was initially marked as unresponsive due to our teams repeated efforts to contact you without success over a year ago. Since submitting your concerns, we can confirm that we have been in communication with you and are happy to continue offering further assistance. We are actively working with you to move forward with your case and are here to help with any questions or additional concerns you may have.
  
  Please dont hesitate to contact us directly at ************************ if you need any further support.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/27/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  My wife and I reached out to tax relief advocates to facilitate a resolution with the irs. We were told they would need to do are 2023 taxes and they were able to get a resolution done and then charged my wife and I over ****** dollars up front. Our 2023 taxes were not completed until August of 2024 and we never got anything done on the resolution. I asked for a refund for the resolution in August of 2024 and was told they would take care of it. Now they are saying they will not refund the money paid for the resolution which is over ****** dollars. They have no proof for the reasons they denied it and I even sent them the tax returns that were filed by them from the *** website. Our 2023 taxes should not cost over ****** dollars. They are a fraudulent company who has no integrity. I have asked repeatedly for their documentation claiming a contract was broken but they refuse.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/06/2025

  Hello ***********,
  
  We take all concerns very seriously and have a proven track record of commitment to each client. We want to confirm that we have been actively working with you to address your concerns. Your refund has been processed, and weve ensured that all of your concerns have been fully addressed.
  
  We are still here to assist you and remain committed to ensuring your satisfaction moving forward. If you have any further questions, please dont hesitate to contact us directly at *******************************.
  
  Thank you again for your patience, and we look forward to continuing to assist you.
  
  Sincerely,
  Client Relations Team
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/25/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I let t=he company to help me with the *** I thought this company care about there customer I have a specialist name ********* ***** I reach out to help about not authorizing a payment to reschedule any other time I have to problem this company took money out my account that I did not authorize and that was suppose to be reschedule and I have all the proof I been researching for a whole week leaving voicemail texting and it was suppose to be done I go look at my account that took my money then when I call about I am getting run around on *** told me my person be in in 10 mins and he will reverse it never happen I call back then a lady tell me he at lunch at this time I am very up set to I ask to speak with supervisor three times she told me they was going to take care of it I will see it next day here it is and my account still not fix there causing problem with my bank account this company don't care about there people they just want your money I want to cancel my services with them there giving me the run around if this don't get fix I am going to attorney general I want my money back and they lied told me there was going to take care of it they just was trying to get me off the phone now I have to file a dispute with my bank they cause overdraft fees in my account I want that paid too if this don't get fix this way I will have to file something due to I have request that I did not want them to authorize payment and it was no problem it would be done it was done before with no problem all sudden this wasn't I do not want nothing to do with this company I rather deal with another company to help me with my taxes this company is fake only care about your money there charging me over ***** dollars

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/03/2025

  Dear ******,
  
  We take all concerns very seriously and have escalated your file to our senior management team for a more thorough review. A member of our team will be in touch with you directly to discuss your case further and assist with your refund request.
  
  We are fully committed to providing the support you need. In the meantime, if you have any additional questions, concerns, or feedback, please dont hesitate to contact us at ************************* We are here to assist you.
  
  Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to resolving this matter to your complete satisfaction.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/04/2025

  they have not call me they send me a form to request a refund say I will get it in 2-5 business I have not got it yet this company say they going call me and don't  I just want all my money back and I have a recorded conversation with ******** say I will get a full refund

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/07/2025

  Hello ******,
  
  Weve confirmed that youve had the opportunity to speak with a member of our team, and your concerns have been fully addressed and resolved. If you require any further assistance, please dont hesitate to reach out to us directly.
  
  Kind regards,
  Client Relations Team

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/24/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  These people had promised a tax resolution. I would have thought after 18 months, they might have resolved something. To date, nothing has been done with my account other than to continually collect $1000 per month. I have since had to hire a law firm to begin this process all over again and for a shorter time frame and less money.Each time I contacted them I was promised someone would get right back to me but they never did. When I received collection notices from the *** they said they were just computer generated and nothing would happen. The *** is currently in the process of levying bank accounts.I was in contact with ****** ****** from TRA who has done nothing but lie and deliberately tried to put me off. The only time I got him to return a call was when I stopped paying TRA.I have cancelled my service with TRA and have only asked to have a few months refunded to me and not the whole amount although my lawyers might seek something completely different.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/03/2025

  Hello ********,
  
  Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. We confirm that we are actively engaged with you regarding this matter. Our team has been in communication with you, and we are committed to addressing your concerns and assisting you throughout this process. We understand the importance of timely and transparent communication and will keep you updated as we work toward a solution regarding your refund request. Please don't hesitate to reach out directly to our team if you have any further questions or need additional support at *******************************.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/24/2025

  Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On 1/31/25 I called TRA and spoke to ******* ***** who explained to me how TRA works and to get started it would be a fully refundable $590 retainer fee. Everything happened very quickly and I gave my CC for the retainer and she said she would get back to me in 3 days with an update adn the next steps. I called her that Monday 2/3 just to confirm that the retainer would be refundable if I chose not to move forward with them and she assured me it was a 100% money back guarantee. a week had past and I didnt not hear from here so I reached out by phone and email with no response. Finally on 2/15 I got a generic email that said my tax resolution was ready and to schedule a phone appt. I scheduled on for the following day and she finally called me. She said i owe X amount of money but I qualify for and offer in compromise that would settle for 1-15% of what I owe. She said I was guaranteed to qualify for that. So I had 2 options which were to let TRA file my taxes and then begin the resolution process or file on my own and them only handle the resolution, I let her know I would get back to her. I did some research and found out I would definitely not qualify for the offer in compromise so decided not to move forward with them. I emailed her the following day and requested that my refundable retainer be returned. Since then I have not been able to get a hold of her. my texts are undeliverable, my emails and calls and unanswered. When I call the ****************************************************************** back which never happens. I have been hung up on several times when I say I'm calling about my refund and have had no success in making any progress with this. There is no way to get in touch with anyone who can help me.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 03/03/2025

  Dear *******,
  
  Thank you for reaching out with your concerns. We have thoroughly reviewed your file and can confirm that our team has been in communication with you regarding your refund request. After further verification, we can confirm that the full refund has been successfully processed on our end. Please allow 3-5 business days for it to reflect in your account. If there is any delay, we recommend contacting your bank issuer, as we do not have control over their processing times.
  
  Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at *******************************.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team
  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 03/04/2025

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  ******* ********
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/21/2025

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On February 2024, I called a company named Tax Relief Advocates.I requested help with my taxes. **** ***** came on the phone and was speaking very fast. I interrupted him several times asking him to slow down. He still did not. He asked me to pay immediately $695 if I wanted any information about what Tax Relief Advocates could for me about my tax situation. I immediately gave my credit card and I was charged $695 that day.**** ***** then send me an email asking me to Docusign 2 forms: Form 2848 Power of *************** 8818 Tax Information Authorization.I did and when **** ***** called me back I explained to him that I would like to have another representative help me as I did not like the way he spoke to me - he was speaking too fast and would not let me ask any question.On February 27, 2024, he sent me a document called a ******************* Agreement" a PDF document of 10 pages - which look like a contract, requesting to pay an additional $5195 minus the $695. I refused to sign it and verbally requested to **** ***** to either have another Settlement Officer deal with me and my case or reimbursing the $695.**** ***** continued emailing me and did not abide by my request.I called and waited more than 5 months calling Tax Relief Advocates to credit me the money they had charged me - to no avail. I want to do a formal complaint about the way Tax Relief Advocates conduct their business.I would like the reimbursement of the $695.******* ******* ************

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/27/2025

  Dear *******,
  
  We take all feedback seriously and appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns. After reviewing your file, we have confirmed that you have already spoken with a member of our team regarding this matter, and your concerns have been fully addressed and resolved.
  
  We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced and appreciate your patience. Should you have any further questions or feedback, please dont hesitate to reach out to us directly at *******************************.
  
  Warm regards,
  Client Relations Team
  

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/20/2025

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I hired Tax Relief Advocates after hearing their advertisement on Sirius XM, which stated, If we cant get your IRS bill reduced or eliminated, you pay nothing. Based on this promise, my wife and I signed up for their services and paid $3,645 over the past year. In the initial phone interview, we told them we were in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.Recently, we were informed that Tax Relief Advocates cannot assist us because we are in Chapter 13 bankruptcy. However, they never disclosed this limitation before taking our money. Since they have not reduced or eliminated our tax debt, we believe their guarantee was misleading. We requested a refund, because they have not honored their advertised promise.I am filing this complaint because their advertising appears to be deceptive and misleading. I request the *** to investigate this matter and help ensure consumers are protected from similar situations.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 02/27/2025

  Hello Macon,
  
  Thank you for sharing your concerns with us. Weve confirmed that youve had the opportunity to speak with our team directly, and your issues have been addressed. We truly appreciate your cooperation and your continued trust in our services. We remain committed to regaining your satisfaction.
  
  If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at *******************************.
  
  Best regards,
  Client Relations Team