What is the best way to choose a tax relief company?

Unique individualism is a great philosophy to apply in life.  Self-reliance, "grabbing the bull by the horns" is all a part of that overall approach to living and working.  Yet, when it comes to dealing with the IRS, that is a different matter altogether.  The avenue of resolving federal tax issues is complicated and difficult with trouble if one is unclear how to get around that wilderness of rules, procedures, guidelines and penalties.This is where a tax relief professional can be a beneficial to you.  Taxes owed are like any other liability.  There are correct ways to retire this kind of debt.  There are short-term solutions and longer-term strategies too.  But which are best suited for the specific tax liability situation at hand? A tax professional can make determinations about the specific issues involved and craft solutions that comply with the tax code, and all of the intricacies involved.  Tax liability relief is the goal: get the issues identified correctly, structure the proper solution for retiring the tax debt as promptly as possible, keeping it affordable and manageable, making sure to be in compliance with all applicable tax laws and regulations enforced by the IRS.Should I Pay My tax professional a Retainer? Exercise caution when it comes to fees for retaining a tax pro in your corner.  The free consultation offered or not offered by a tax professional you may be considering to help you with your tax liability is a good sign for you to either engage them further or to keep shopping around.  During a free consultation, you can get a feel for the chemistry involved in this soon-to-be critically important relationship and you will have the opportunity to discuss the scope of the services to be provided, at what cost, and how payment for services will be managed. Retainers are difficult to control because the rate at which work is completed may involve additional fee payments before work is concluded.  Retainer contracts are difficult to monitor and it makes it unclear how to hold the service provider accountable for achieving necessary benchmarks on time to minimize costs.  Flat fees for the scope of work according to clear benchmarks and reasonable time frames are much more desirable than open-ended retainer fee agreements.Any time one is in need of service, and willing to pay fees to secure it, it is only prudent to ensure that the provider is competent, qualified and authorized to provide services- especially when there are legal implications and consequences for you.  When it comes to tax relief, one not only wants to save money by paying the least in taxes, interest, and penalties.  One should also pay modestly for services to get the job done correctly.  Selecting the tax professional that is right for you is a simple matter covered in this report.How Relevant is a Better Business Bureau Recommendation? A good rating is mandatory for any tax pro on your short list.  Be sure of their good rating before entering into final negotiations for services.  The Better Business Bureau has been around for 99 years offering protections in the marketplace for consumers paying good money for goods and services that are crucial to quality of life and liberties.  Look for the Bureau's A-rating on any debt guidance specialist with IRS tax relief expertise.  A red flag to be on the lookout for is an IRS debt guidance enterprise operating under a "Doing Business As" license or a distinctly separate incorporated brand name.  These enterprise modes suggest there may be less than forthright identification of who the principals are and their overall ethics around full disclosure to prospective customers. Check beneath the surface of the service offerings and the pricing for each.Quality of Service Based on Experience in Providing Tax Liability Relief Services.There is no substitute for experience working with the issues involved with interpreting the federal tax code as it applies to businesses and individual taxpayers.  The field is intricate and constantly changing.  Case work is the only way to stay up to date as it requires the provider to do research and make prudent strategic decisions on behalf of their clients.  And if those decisions do not bear fruit for their clients, word-of-mouth will be the final judge and jury as to the quality of service people can expect from that tax liability professional; their business depends on applying their experience in the best interests of their clients.Some consumer protection advocates suggest a minimum range of time in business of five to ten years as a good indicator of service quality.  Look at the experience levels of the attorneys and accountants who are members of the firm, across the board.