Community Tax Review
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Community Tax is a Chicago-based company focused on helping individuals and small businesses handle problems with back taxes, audits, failure to file taxes, and wage garnishment due to taxes owed at both the state and federal level.
They also provide bookkeeping services and tax monitoring services to make sure the clients’ taxes are filed correctly and on time, preventing future problems with the IRS or state tax authorities.
Types of Tax Relief Services & Terms
| Relief Types |
|
| Minimum Tax Amount Owed | $8,000 |
| Range of Fees | Starts at $2,500 |
| Type of fees | Flat fee calculated on a case-by-case basis |
| Type of Provider | In-house servicing |
Community Tax helps people navigate the often-complicated system of IRS forgiveness while managing problems such as bank levies, penalties, and back taxes. They provide education to help empower their customers. They also handle tax preparation, accounting, bookkeeping, and tax resolution.
This company has an all-in-one tax service solution called Community Tax Assurance Program, as well. The program provides tax account monitoring, IRS account alerts, access to a tax monitoring mobile app, information about tax deadlines, quarterly tax reports, and access to IRS transcripts.
There are several levels of service available, each on a monthly subscription basis. Pricing ranges from $34.99 per month to $99.99 per month. Their ultimate goal is to get their clients in compliance with the IRS and state tax authorities and stay there after resolving problems and eliminating outstanding taxes owed. These subscription fees are for the Community Tax Assurance Program only. The tax relief program has a flat fee calculated on a case-by-case basis.
Community Tax Pros
- Personalized service is available with certified professionals
- Education and preventative strategies help clients understand the tax system
- IRS compliance updates provide clients with a chance to resolve problems before they get out of hand
Community Tax Cons
- Information about fees for help with tax problems isn’t available
- Must have at least $5,000 in IRS tax delinquency to qualify for tax help
Credentials
The professionals at Community Tax are IRS specialists, tax investigators, CPAs, and lawyers. Their profiles are listed on the Community Tax website. Customers get the benefit of these professionals’ education and experience as tax lawyers, accountants, and IRS specialists.
Getting Started
Community Tax provides customers with a free consultation. After gathering information from the customer and the IRS or state tax authority about the situation, members of the Community Tax team offer a free tax analysis with a suggested plan of action to solve the problem.
Community Tax investigates the issues at hand by filing a Tax Authorization Information Form 8821 or by filing the appropriate forms with the customer’s state tax authority on their behalf. This allows a CPA to get records from the tax authority about any current or potential problems.
The tax professional prepares a resolution using information gathered from the customer and from the tax authority. They propose a solution to the state or IRS.
Community Tax may offer the following IRS-approved resolution options for tax problems:
- Penalty Abatement
- Currently Not Collectible Status
- Currently Not Collectible Status
- Currently Not Collectible Status
- Offers in Compromise (OFC)
- Installment Agreements (IA)
- Stair Step Agreement
- Streamline Installment Agreement
- Partial Pay Installment Agreement
There doesn’t seem to be a formal application process to get started. Rather, the customer fills out a short questionnaire online with their full name, email address, and phone number. A member of the Community Tax team then contacts them to set up a consultation.
The customer consults with someone on the team one-on-one. This provides individualized services and a dedicated tax investigator, enrolled agent, tax attorney, or CPA, depending on the individual’s needs.
Customers have the option of temporarily granting power of attorney to Community Tax. This allows Community Tax to work directly with the IRS on the customer’s behalf to fight wage garnishment, IRS tax liens, and tax levies.
Visit SiteRequirements
- $8,000 minimum tax amount owed
Fees
Fee estimates are $2,500 to $4,000. Fees may vary depending on the severity of the case and how much time it takes a tax professional at Community Tax to help solve the problem.
The Community Tax website promises that their fees are fixed and are customized to fit the needs of each individual customer. They state that there are no hidden fees or surprise charges.
Privacy & Security
The company serves customers in all 50 states. While there are 323 reviews from Community Tax customers on Trust Pilot, 84% of which give a rating of “Excellent,” there is very little information available about the company’s results on their website.
Their privacy policy states that they may use the information provided by individuals to send promotional materials, and they may share that information with third parties. Community Tax allows its customers to “opt-out” of some uses of personal information.
It’s important to note that the Community Tax Privacy Policy states, “WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SELL, RENT OR TRANSFER YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES FOR ANY PURPOSE IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION.” They also note that customers who want to opt-out of having their personal information shared must call Community Tax’s customer service department at 1-877-656-4552.
Customer Service
Community Tax provides individualized service to each customer based on their situation. Customers get one-on-one attention from a licensed professional who will help them understand all the options.
Final Thoughts
Community Tax doesn’t disclose their fees upfront, which could prevent some customers from seeking their services. They have many positive reviews, indicating a long history of serving those in need of tax help.
The credentials of the professionals employed by Community Tax indicate that the company is serious about providing help solving tax problems. While taxpayers can communicate with the IRS and state tax authorities directly to handle their tax problems, it may be difficult to fully understand the options or know how to negotiate with tax officials. Community Tax may provide a much-needed service to taxpayers in need of guidance about how to solve their tax problems. They don’t make big promises and are an education and prevention-focused organization that seems to have their customers’ best interests in mind.
Address
Community Tax
Chicago Loop
17 N. State St. Suite 210
Chicago, IL 60602
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