Fortress Tax Relief Reviews
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About Fortress Tax Relief Reviews
Based in Oregon, Fortress Tax Relief is a national tax resolution firm that provides services to businesses and individuals across the country. It offers a range of solutions to resolve tax debts, including pennies-on-the-dollar settlements, payment plans and penalty elimination. Each case is handled by a licensed tax attorney who specializes in handling back tax liabilities.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free consultation
- Licensed attorneys
Cons
- Unclear pricing terms
- Money-back guarantee only 24 hours
Bottom Line
Fortress Tax Relief handles a wide range of IRS and state tax issues. You will need at least $10,000 of tax debt to start working with Fortress, but you can request a free consultation before starting.
Featured Reviews
They cut what we owed the state in back taxes by over half. Always available to talk with us and explain everything and walk us through what we needed to do on our end. Shea was a...
Read full reviewFrom our initial contact to the solution Fortress has been a tremendous blessing to us! They were not only very knowledgeable but more importantly they were very concerned with he...
Read full reviewWhat is Fortress Tax Relief?
As a medium-sized tax relief firm, Fortress Tax Relief helps both individuals and businesses resolve tax enforcement issues and liabilities nationwide. Each attorney undergoes more than 500 hours of training with a licensed tax attorney before being able to work with Fortress.
How does Fortress Tax Relief work?
After your free initial consultation, an attorney will review your case to ensure your time and money are not wasted. Then, you will have the opportunity to meet with your attorney. If you are not satisfied with this meeting, you can request a full refund within 24 hours of the meeting.
Fortress Tax Relief products
Fortress Tax Relief offers a number of tax resolution services for the American taxpayer, including tax appeals, innocent spouse tax relief and review of tax transcripts. For complex cases, Fortress Tax Relief offers Creative Tax Relief Solutions for a more personalized approach.
- Offers in compromise
- For taxpayers who have difficulty paying the full amount of what they owe or have doubts as to the amount demanded, Fortress Tax Relief helps with offers in compromise (OIC). Offers in compromise allow taxpayers to settle liabilities for less than the full amount owed.
- Penalty abatement
- A penalty abatement reduces the amount you owe. But before the IRS can grant a penalty abatement, there needs to be “reasonable cause.” Fortress Tax Relief can help you establish that by stating the facts and providing a sound legal argument.
- Installment agreements
- With installment agreements, taxpayers agree to repay their tax debt in installments. Fortress Tax Relief works with taxpayers to negotiate terms that are fair and financially reasonable. Installment agreements are great for taxpayers who want to avoid or are on the verge of default.
- Innocent spouse tax relief
- When filing joint taxes, there are times when one spouse may be found innocent of tax liabilities. In these cases, Fortress Tax Relief can help spouses who meet the criteria with innocent spouse tax relief services, so they can be relieved of liability.
- Tax appeals
- Fortress Tax Relief helps clients identify the best method for a tax appeal. The two main ways are through the Collection Appeals Program (CAP) and a Request for a Collection Due Process Hearing (CDP). If a taxpayer misses the deadline for a CDP, Fortress Tax Relief helps them identify their eligibility for an “Equivalent Hearing.”
- Creative tax relief solutions
- Fortress Tax Relief offers creative tax relief solutions for taxpayers whose cases do not fit into one of these conventional tax strategies. Fortress Tax Relief will work with you personally to identify the best plan. This might mean combining a number of different approaches to protect your assets and resolve tax liabilities.
Fortress Tax Relief pricing
The company says that the cost of tax relief varies on the size of tax liability. While it does not give an exact cost, prices can range from $1,000 on the low end to over $15,000 for aggravated or complex cases. For some tax issues, Fortress Tax Relief charges a flat fee depending on how many hours is estimated for the work.
Fortress Tax Relief FAQ
How do I know if I need a tax attorney?
If you feel overwhelmed by your tax situation or owe more money than feels possible to repay, a tax attorney can help give clarity on your situation. Choose a tax attorney that offers a free consultation and is upfront with its pricing and resolution timeline from the start.
Why should I choose a tax attorney over a tax resolution company?
Generally, tax attorneys can be more aggressive in the case made to the IRS. It also takes an attorney a significant amount of hours to become licensed and the ability to practice versus an enrolled agent (EA) or certified public accountant (CPA). All Fortress Tax Relief attorneys have over 500 hours of one-on-one experience, whereas an EA can be certified in as little as six months and needs only 16 hours of continuing education each year to stay certified.
How much does the IRS usually settle for?
According to Fortress Tax Relief, the average OIC in 2020 was $16,176. But everyone’s tax situation is different and will have a different outcome. It is best to work with a legitimate tax attorney or tax resolution company that is honest about the expected results rather than overpromising what it can do.
Can you negotiate with the IRS without a lawyer?
Yes. However, many taxpayers find their tax situation overwhelming and the tax code complicated to sift through to figure out their rights and responsibilities. A tax lawyer works with tax issues and the IRS daily and because an attorney knows the tax laws well, it can possibly set you up with a better outcome with the IRS than you could have reached yourself.
Is Fortress Tax Relief legit?
Fortress Tax Relief is a legitimate tax resolution company that has been in business since 2003. It has six tax attorneys on staff to fight the IRS on your behalf. The company never takes on more than 100 clients at a time, to ensure the attorneys can devote the needed resources to each case.
Fortress Tax Relief Reviews
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Reviewed Jan. 13, 2023
I have used Fortress Tax Relief for 2 very difficult negotiations with the IRS. After years of negotiating with the IRS, Peter successfully resolved my issue and the case was finally closed in our favor. Peter never gave up and communicated clearly with us his strategy to win. Truly grateful to Peter and everyone at Fortress for taking care of us and our case. If you have any issues with the IRS, I urge you to call Fortress Tax Relief and let them help you get you back to living your life without the fear of the IRS. Success is their business.
Our formula for success is to hire ONLY high-caliber attorneys to represent our clients (no other significant U.S. tax relief firm does this), to train them thoroughly and then train them more, to treat them well so there is virtually no turnover (nearly all our attorneys have been with us for 15 years plus), to require an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for our clients and providing outstanding customer service, and to instill a never-say-die company culture. It takes every component of that formula to succeed with a difficult a case like yours. You've been a great client, and we're so glad you found us. Thank you for your business and your review!
Reviewed Jan. 10, 2023
I was contacted by Tax Fortress about 5 years ago with an issue I had. I thought I could handle it. I was wrong. Thank goodness at the time that Joe ** called, I was smart enough to recognize a high-quality person from a professional business. I kept Tax Fortress' contact information, and when the issue resurfaced, as they always do, I called Joe. He remembered me. How about that. He handed me to their attorney, David **, who also is a Tax Attorney. Great combination for what he does. He listened to my story. How refreshing to be heard and not brushed off. David said he wanted to do some research and would call me back. Then, he called me back in a couple of days.
Shea ** was on this call. Shea is the glue that keeps all the pieces of your case together. He and David asked me more questions. David commented to Shea that they would want to do such and such. This is something that I really respected - their transparency. David then told me to send Shea some documents, which I subsequently did. David and Shea thanked me for my time and we ended the call. Shea became the designated communicator with me. He always contacted me when he said he would, be it phone or email. Shea was thorough with what he had to relay to me and in answering my questions. Shea was professional and patient. Whenever I had a question about something, I'd call or email and within hours Shea responded, every time!
The team there of David and Shea were ready to go to battle for me. That was clear as we discussed my case. It turns out the resolution for my case was straightforward. Still, Tax Fortress handled my case thoroughly and professionally. The reason I went with them was because I needed to know that once my case was resolved, it would not resurface, ever. I got what I wanted with Tax Fortress - professionalism and humanism. Did you ever think you would get that with a Tax Resolution company? You can get it with Tax Fortress. I highly recommend the folks at Tax Fortress.
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Reviewed Dec. 13, 2022
The reviews that my cousin gave were great and that's what motivated me to call Fortress. They were extremely professional and they provided me with all the answers that I needed to know - what I was going to go through step by step and the outcome. I was very satisfied with them. They gave a callback and didn't keep me in the dark. Also, I was extremely comfortable with the company and I didn't have to worry about anything. The papers were in order where I had to sign and everything came on time. It was just the mail that held up everything but that was it. This was ridiculously easy. I've been giving out their name to everybody that I know that’s been having tax problems.
Having a serious tax liability is no one's idea of a good time. We strive to make the process as easy pleasant as possible for each of our valued clients. We're glad to hear we hit that mark with your case. Thank you!
Reviewed Nov. 15, 2022
I found myself owing a significant amount of money in back taxes to the IRS. I called and talked to several companies before finding Fortress. I worked with David **, and he exceeded expectations. There were several roadblocks that delayed the outcome and my offer was actually rejected. David worked diligently to overturn their decision and it worked out in my favor. I am so relieved that I made the choice to use Fortress and was lucky enough to get assigned to someone that was confident and capable to pull this off. I will forever be grateful. Thank you so much for all of your hard work!
The IRS accepted only 30.7% of the OIC's submitted nationally last year (the rate of acceptance of the offers we submitted was much, much higher). So, the importance of having an outstanding tax pro who knows how to appeal and get an offer approved cannot be overstated. We're so glad we were able to make such a positive impact on your life. Thank you for your business and for your review!
Reviewed Oct. 25, 2022
What an awesome experience and a gigantic burden lifted from my back. I have work with Art and Joan *(The dream team) at Fortress twice and they honestly took the time to listen to what was happening, understood all of the facts from my side, and came up with an amazing game plan to fix a major issue I carried for years alone. I am so appreciate to the prompt responses I always received and the guidance when needed. I was skeptical at first because you hear of so many scams out in the world but they quickly put my mind at ease and truly delivered in the end.
In house we refer to our entire team of tax relief attorneys and assistants the All-stars, so your assessment of Art & Joan being a dream team hits close to home. We're so glad to hear that your experience was "awesome." Having a large tax liability is no one's idea of a good time, but you aren't the first to report getting rid of gigantic the burden feels fantastic. Thank you for your business and your thoughtful review!
Reviewed Sept. 28, 2022
Unfortunately I had serious tax issues. A CFO had left me in a bad spot with the IRS. I had no idea what to do. Fortress and David ** was truly awesome to work with. I worked with him for over 10 years until my tax situations for my business and personal taxes were resolved. I had interviewed a few companies before selecting Fortress. Fortress didn't promise me gimmicks or do things that would get me in more trouble. They were professional and at times worked with my accountant. They were able to get a significant amount of my penalties removed as well. I can't say enough about them. I hope you never find yourself with tax problems but if you do you can't be in better hands.
First, it is extremely unusual for us to have a client for 10 years or even 1/3 that amount of time, so your tax situation was definitely quite complicated and likely included a number of new and significant challenges that came up during the course of representation. Your case is a great example of how our A-team of tax relief attorneys won't shy away, won't give up, always continue to fight on behalf of our clients, and can eventually turn a seemingly impossible situation into a beautiful success story. There is a good chance that an average tax relief professional (the kind our competitors favor because they are cheaper to employ) would have failed. Thank you for putting your trust in us and thank you for the kind review!
Reviewed Aug. 3, 2023
If you are struggling with IRS or State tax issues I HIGHLY recommend Fortress. Due to personal reasons and COVID we had to shut down our business a couple years ago and we were behind with both the IRS and state with debt over $100,000. David ** and Shea ** were absolutely amazing in helping us reduce what we owed to under $15,000! I'm sure you can imagine the huge relief we had! As we were struggling along the way they were even kind enough to allow us to make a payment plan for their time and services. Highly recommend, Thanks again!
Thank you for your review! David, Shea, and the rest of our tax pros truly are amazing, and we're fortunate to have such all-around outstanding people on our team. You've been a great client, we appreciate you, and we couldn't be happier with the results!
Reviewed July 24, 2023
This was my first time in a tax bind. I was stressed and needed to find someone I felt I could trust. I shopped around and spoke with four tax professionals. It was a tremendous relief to find and work with Fortress Tax Relief. They're extremely honest, professional, thoughtful, and thorough. I highly recommend their team.
Thank you so much!
Reviewed June 28, 2023
Recently I had occasion to seek the services of a tax attorney, and after interviewing several I chose Fortress Tax Relief in Bend, OR. I have been extremely happy and relieved with the information and services that Attorney David ** and Paralegal Nataly ** from Fortress Tax Relief in Bend, OR have provided to me, and would highly recommend them for anyone that found themself in a serious tax situation/dilemma.
Julie N. from Portland
Reviewed June 1, 2023
Stephen’s team is a phenomenal one. David ** and Nataly ** are kind, professional, caring and extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Would highly recommend this company. Trying to navigate this situation is a hard one and having such clear confidence is a blessing and priceless.
David, Nataly, and the rest of our staff of attorneys and professionals are truly outstanding people. We're delighted to hear that they took the pain out of the process for you. Thank you so much!
Reviewed April 11, 2023
I had a long term tax issue that Fortress was able to untangle and put me into an offer in compromise that was incredibly favorable and relieved so much stress. Fortress communicated regularly and responded to any questions I had.
Many clients report that simply bringing us on board helped reduce their stress levels. Of course, settling a tax debt for a fraction of the total is a potent stress-reducer. We're so glad we could help!
Fortress Tax Relief Company Information
- Company Name:
- Fortress Tax Relief
- Formerly Named:
- Fortress Financial Services, Inc.
- Address:
- 1011 SW Emkay Drive, Suite 201
- City:
- Bend
- State/Province:
- OR
- Postal Code:
- 97702
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- taxfortress.com