Fresh Start Initiative Review
8.6
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Fresh Start Initiative Reviews

8.6
Bob Phillips

WRITTEN BY

Bob Phillips

Marketplace of skilled specialists
Marketplace of skilled specialists
About Fresh Start Initiative

Fresh Start Initiative, founded in 2014 in Ladera Ranch, California, is a private company formed to help people with unpaid taxes negotiate settlements with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Fresh Start Initiative is not a government agency or associated with the IRS.

Fresh Start matches consumers with partner companies and professionals specializing in tax debt relief. The company offers no tax debt resolution services itself. It is simply a referral service.

8.5

LS SCORE

9.0

CREDIBILITY

8.0

SUPPORT

8.5

ACCESSIBILITY

Fresh Start Initiative Tax Relief Review

Fresh Start Initiative refers consumers to various tax professionals, depending upon the need Fresh Start’s representatives uncover during their initial telephone consultation or the information submitted on their website. The company does not offer any tax relief services itself.

Fresh Start Initiative Tax Relief Highlights

MIN TAX DEBT REQUIRED

$0

FREE CONSULTATION

Yes

POTENTIAL EXTRA FEES

Yes

MONEY BACK GUARANTEE

No

BBB RATING

N/a

Pros & Cons

  • Partner companies provide a wide variety of solutions to tax problems
  • The company has been in business since 2014
  • Fresh Start Initiative does business in all 50 states
  • Limited information on partner companies is provided on website
  • Company representatives cannot estimate the cost of services; only partner companies provide this

Tax Relief Service Types

  • Installment Plans
  • Dealing with the IRS
  • Innocent Spouse Relief
  • Levy Release
  • Offer in Compromise
  • Penalty Abatement
  • Stop Wage Garnishment
  • Tax Lien Removal
  • Unfiled Tax Returns
  • Audit Representation
  • Federal tax
  • State tax

In-House Professionals

  • N/A

Associated Fees

Fresh Start Initiative does not charge a consultation fee if you speak with a company representative. However, fees and charges will vary by the ultimate provider of the tax relief services.

Required Information

Fresh Start Initiative requires limited personal information to get started. They ask for basic information (name, address, phone, email) but do not ask for the consumer’s Social Security number, the specific dollar amount of tax owed, or personal income information.

State Availability

Available in all states

Privacy & Security

According to the Fresh Start Initiative website, the company requires you to provide a certain amount of personal and private information about your identity, your estimated tax owed, or your tax problem.

Their privacy policy states that offering your personal contact information via the Fresh Start Initiative website means you agree to allow them to share your information with their partner sites and that the partners may then contact you directly with offers via phone and/or email.

Customer Support

Fresh Start Initiative’s telephone prompts are limited to two choices. You can either leave a message on their voicemail or select an option that allows you to schedule a meeting with a company representative.

Because Fresh Start Initiative doesn’t have a BBB rating and is not listed on Trust Pilot, we can’t discern how responsive they are to inquiries or customer service. However, because they are a referral service only, they will likely refer you back to the company you were matched with for any customer service needed.

In Conclusion

Fresh Start Initiative does not appear to be a complex company to do business with. They have a single-page website that clearly explains the advantages of doing business with them and how they match consumers with professionals who can help resolve tax problems with the IRS.

They are not BBB rated, but that does not mean they aren’t reputable. The BBB rating of the organization or professional assisting the consumer for a fee should be a potential customer’s primary consideration.

FAQ

Is Fresh Start Initiative approved by the IRS?
The IRS neither approves nor disapproves tax relief companies.
Which states does Fresh Start Initiative do business in?
The company does business in all 50 states. However, consumers should check with the professional they were referred to and see which states they are approved in.
How much does Fresh Start Initiative charge?
Fresh Start Initiative does not charge for their initial consultation or referral to a tax relief professional. However, you will be charged by the tax relief professional you are matched with.

Fresh Start Initiative Disclaimer

“Our partners’ clients’ results may vary based on ability to save funds and completion of all program terms. Not all of our partners’ clients are able to complete their program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Our partners’ estimates are based on prior results, which will vary depending on your specific circumstances. Our partners do not guarantee that your debts will be resolved for a specific amount or percentage or within a specific period of time.

Our partners do not assume your debts, make monthly payments to creditors or provide bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Our partners’ services are not available in all states and their fees may vary from state to state. Please contact a tax professional to discuss potential tax consequences of less than full balance debt resolution. Depending on the product or services offered, you may be able to obtain this service on your own without the help of one of our 3rd party members of our network. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment.”

Disclosure

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WRITTEN BY

Bob Phillips

Having spent over fifteen years helping people plan their lives financially, Bob has a vast amount of knowledge concerning personal finance. During his career, Bob mastered many different financial products to help people achieve their financial goals, including life insurance, disability insurance, mutual funds, and stocks and bonds. He earned the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation and held numerous securities licenses. Bob is an internationally published poet and is now a freelance writer living in North Texas with his wife and Doberman puppy.