The tax resolution industry is a minefield of commissioned salespeople, upfront fees, and promises engineered for the radio. The defense is a short interrogation: five questions any legitimate professional answers instantly and any mill stumbles over. Ask them before a dollar moves.
The Five Questions
One: Who exactly will work my case, and what is their credential? You want a name and a license - attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent - not a 'dedicated case team.' Ask whether the person selling you the service is the person doing the work; in the mills, the closer you are talking to will never touch your file again.
Two: Will you file a Form 2848 power of attorney, and when? Representation runs on the 2848. Firms that file only the information-access form, or nothing, are charging representation prices for spectating.
Three: What is your actual assessment of my case? A professional who has heard your facts can sketch the likely paths and their tradeoffs on the spot. A script-reader pivots to the pennies-on-the-dollar program regardless of what you said - the offer in compromise has qualification math, and anyone promising a settlement before analyzing your finances is reciting marketing.
Four: How are fees structured, and what happens if the strategy changes? You want clarity, staged work, and a straight answer about what is refundable - not a large upfront fee for an undefined journey.
Five: What should I do right now, today? Real practitioners triage: there is always an immediate answer about deadlines, levies, or compliance. Salespeople have no today, only the contract.
And One to Ask Yourself
Did anything in the conversation acknowledge the possibility that you might not need them? Honesty about small problems is the cheapest credibility test in the industry. I am happy to take all five questions on a free call - and the fifth one gets answered whether or not you ever hire me.