Fortress Tax Relief Review

Services Offered by Fortress Tax Relief

Fortress Tax Relief offers a similar selection of tax debt elimination services as other companies in the field. This includes:

• Offers in Compromise that allow you to permanently settle your tax debt for less than the full amount you owe.
• Installment payment agreements, which allow you to extend the timeframe over which you must pay your taxes in full.
• Penalty abatements, or removal of the tax penalties after they have been assessed to you.
• Wage garnishment/bank levies, which can cover your tax debt by sending a portion of your wages to the IRS with every pay period.
• Innocent Spouse Relief, which will relieve you from additional taxes you owe if your spouse failed to report income or reported it improperly.

It is worth noting, however, that Fortress does not offer any tax compliance, back tax filing, or bookkeeping services. They’re focus is strictly helping you settle your tax debts.

Fortress Tax Relief Service Features

While Fortress Tax Relief conveniently serves all 50 states, it is not as available to the general public as some of the other competitor companies. Indeed, Fortress’ minimum debt requirement of $10,000 is slightly above average, which makes it not suitable for small, first-time tax liabilities. Yet, the company does claim  that clients with larger debts can save tens of thousands or even millions of dollars in tax relief.

Fortress shares that the average Offer in Compromise settlement in 2020 was $16,167. Of course, your own relief time and amount will depend on the specifics of your case.

Fortress Tax Relief Application Process

The application process with Fortress Tax Relief is fairly straightforward. You start by entering the amount of debt you’d like to settle on their website, followed by entering your location. Here, you’ll see what services are available for your state and what tax relief attorneys you’d be working with. From there, follow these next steps to see if Fortress Tax Relief can help you:

1. Initial consultation. Meet with the Fortress representative for a free, no-obligation consultation.
2. Full refund option. If you don’t feel comfortable after the initial consultation, you can back out within 24 hours to receive a full refund.
3. Intake paperwork. If you do decide to proceed, you will need to fill out some simple intake paperwork.
4. Tax attorney assignment. You will then be assigned to a tax attorney, who will handle your case from start to finish.
5. IRS negotiations. Your tax attorney will apply to suitable IRS tax relief programs and negotiate with the IRS on your behalf. 
6. Tax relief. If negotiations are successful, you will receive tax relief, and Fortress will charge a tax resolution fee.

Fortress Tax Relief Costs and Fees

One great feature worth mentioning in the Fortress Tax Relief review is the fact that the firm does not charge any upfront fees or retainers. Instead, you will need to pay a resolution fee only if the company succeeds in their tax relief efforts. While the fee may seem high (up to $15,000), Fortress offers flexible payment options. This means that you don’t have to pay their fees as a lump sum.

With Fortress Tax Relief, you won’t have to pay if you change your mind. After the initial consultation, you will have 24 hours to back out free of charge. Furthermore, you may be able to request a refund if you aren’t completely satisfied with the company’s services. Visit Fortress’ website to review the terms and conditions of their money-back guarantee.

Fortress Tax Relief Customer Experience

Online reviews show that Fortress is above average in terms of overall customer experience. Let us take a closer look:

• Website Extensiveness & Usability. The company’s website does a great job covering the tax relief services provided, expected costs, and suitable candidates for their tax relief services.
• Expanded Call Center Support. Client reviews highlight Fortress’ call center support as one of the more helpful and approachable customer service teams.
• Multi-Channel Support. In addition to phone access, you can reach out to Fortress through their online contact form. You can also connect with the company through Facebook or LinkedIn. 
• Supplemental Support (Information & Tools). Fortress Tax Relief shares answers to tax resolution FAQs directly on the homepage of their website. The site also features an engaging blog with helpful tax resources and information, and they offer a YouTube channel with helpful videos regarding tax relief.
• Mobile Technology. The Fortress Tax Relief website doesn’t mention the use of a mobile app at the moment.

Fortress Tax Relief Trustworthiness and Stability

Founded in 2003, Fortress has been providing tax relief services for nearly two decades. While the company does not disclose the exact number of customers or the total amount of debt settled, Fortress does mention that they have successfully settled debt for clients in every state of the country.

Fortress Tax Relief is a member of the National Association of Tax Resolution Companies and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. However, it misses some other important memberships, including the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) Membership, the National Association of Enrolled Agents Membership, and the National Association of Tax Professionals Membership. Nevertheless, the company makes all efforts to employ only licensed tax attorneys with at least 500 hours of on-the-job training.

Fortress Tax Relief User Reviews

Overall, Fortress has earned a positive reputation among customers. Specifically, Fortress Tax Relief reviews average at 4.82/5 on Better Business Bureau (BBB) and 5.0/5 on Consumer Affairs. The customers highlight high quality of client support, honest and straightforward advice, and the lack of upfront fees. As mentioned in reviews, clients love having an experienced attorney taking care of the IRS negotiation process from start to finish.

Among nearly 80 positive reviews on BBB, only one complaint was open, mentioning that the company failed to return the client’s emails. However, the complaint was promptly closed, with the customer saying that the company has finally got in touch.

Fortress Tax Relief Compared to Other Companies

Similar to competitor tax relief companies, Fortress Tax Relief does not charge anything upfront and offers a money-back guarantee. However, a relatively high minimum tax debt required and high resolution fees make Fortress a preferred option for clients with larger, more complex tax debt cases.

Final Thoughts

Fortress Tax Relief is genuinely committed to helping their clients resolve their tax liabilities with the IRS. With each case, a licensed and trained tax attorney takes care of all aspects of the negotiation, something not commonly seen with typical tax relief firms. In addition, the company is known for its responsiveness and straightforward, honest advice. 

All things considered, Fortress Tax Relief presents a viable option if you are looking for reliable tax relief services and have at least $10,000 you’re looking to settle.