Quick Answer: Tax Defense Network is a for-profit tax relief company.
Before You Read This: I want to be upfront about what this page is and isn’t. I’m not a tax advisor, and I’m not rendering a verdict on Tax Defense Network. This is a research guide — I’m showing you where to look so you can reach your own conclusions based on current information.
If you find something in the public record that concerns you, post it in the comments below. If you’re evaluating their contract, use my free Contract Decoder tool.
If you represent Tax Defense Network and something here is inaccurate, contact me and I’ll review it promptly.
If you have inside information you feel you need to share with me privately: don’t. Whatever you want to share should be posted in the comments — by you, with your name attached. I’m not willing to be anyone’s conduit for information they won’t stand behind themselves.
The most valuable thing on this page may not be what I’ve written — it’s the comments section below. People who’ve actually worked with Tax Defense Network share their experiences there. I’d encourage you to read them and add your own.
Who Is Tax Defense Network?
An educated consumer is our best customer.— Sy Syms
New here? My Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company walks through how to vet any financial services company before you sign anything.
Tax Defense Network is a for-profit tax relief company. Rather than repeat what they say about themselves here, I’d encourage you to read their own website and state business filings — that way you’re seeing it directly from primary sources, not filtered through me.
Step 1: Check Their Credentials
Before anything else, verify they have the credentials they claim. Here’s what to check:
- BBB Profile: Check their Better Business Bureau profile — look at the rating, years in business, and especially the complaint history and how they responded.
- IRS Enrolled Agent Verification: If they represent themselves as having enrolled agents on staff, you can verify EA credentials through the IRS’s enrolled agent verification database.
- CPA and Attorney Licensing: Ask specifically which licensed professionals will handle your case. CPAs can be verified through your state’s board of accountancy, and attorneys through your state bar association.
- ASTPS Membership: The American Society of Tax Problem Solvers is a professional organization for tax resolution specialists. Membership can indicate a commitment to professional standards in the field.
A Note on BBB Grades: A high BBB grade doesn’t necessarily mean a company is right for you — it means they respond to complaints filed through the BBB. Read the actual complaint text and the company’s responses. That’s the useful part. See my full guide to what BBB letter grades actually mean →
Step 2: Check Consumer Complaints
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains a public database of complaints filed against financial companies. You can search for Tax Defense Network directly:
The Daily Money Brief — Free, at 10 AM
Money you may be owed, scams to dodge, and the fine print decoded — the consumer money news that affects your wallet, every weekday.
Search Tax Defense Network’s complaint history in the CFPB database →
When you’re reading complaints, look for:
- What the complaints are about — fee disputes, case inactivity, communication problems, promises not kept?
- How the company responded — did they resolve issues or just close them?
- Whether the same issue appears repeatedly — a pattern matters more than a single complaint
- The ratio of complaints to customers — a large company will have more complaints in raw numbers
Step 3: Read Their Trustpilot Reviews
You can find Tax Defense Network’s Trustpilot reviews here. A few things to keep in mind as you read:
How to read Trustpilot like a pro: My complete guide to spotting red flags in Trustpilot reviews breaks down exactly what to look for — including how to identify review solicitation campaigns and reputation management tactics.
- Pay attention to what the 5-star reviews are actually about. If they’re praising a friendly phone call or easy intake process — that’s interaction quality, not case performance. Compare those against reviews that specifically mention outcomes: IRS liens released, payment plans approved, cases resolved as promised.
- Read the 2- and 3-star reviews carefully — these tend to be the most honest, from people who had mixed experiences and aren’t trying to tear the company apart
- Look at how the company responds to negative reviews — a defensive or dismissive response tells you something
- Check the review dates — a flood of 5-star reviews in a short period can indicate a solicitation campaign
Step 4: Check Their Legal and Enforcement History
For-profit tax relief companies are subject to enforcement actions from federal and state regulators. Here’s where to look:
- CFPB Enforcement Actions: Search the CFPB’s enforcement action database for the company name
- FTC Actions: The FTC publishes all enforcement cases — search for the company or its principals
- State Attorney General: Search “Tax Defense Network attorney general” or “Tax Defense Network settlement” — many enforcement actions happen at the state level and won’t appear in federal databases
- Federal Court Records: CourtListener searches 1.3 billion federal court documents for free — no registration required. For the official PACER system with complete case filings, see my guide to using PACER.gov.
Context Matters: A company that has faced enforcement action isn’t automatically disqualified — what matters is what the action was for, whether they resolved it, and whether the behavior continued. A company that’s never faced any scrutiny in a highly regulated industry may just not have been looked at yet.
Step 5: Ask the Right Questions Before You Hire Them
Before signing anything: Run their contract through my free Contract Decoder tool. Paste it in and get a plain-English breakdown of what you’re agreeing to.
Before you commit to any tax relief company, get clear answers — in writing — to these questions:
- Who specifically will be handling my IRS case — an enrolled agent, CPA, or attorney — and what are their credentials?
- What is the total fee for my case, and what does it include? Are there any fees charged before work begins?
- What types of IRS tax problems do you specialize in, and is mine one of them?
- What is a realistic timeline for resolving my case, and what factors could extend it?
- What happens if the IRS denies my application for the resolution you’re seeking?
- What is your cancellation policy, and what portion of fees are refundable if I need to stop?
Before You Commit: Tax resolution is a specialized area. Run your situation through my Find Your Path tool to make sure you understand your full range of options before engaging any paid service.
Key Takeaways
- Verify credentials — enrolled agent, CPA, or attorney status through IRS and state licensing databases
- Read CFPB complaints for patterns — not just raw numbers
- On Trustpilot, compare 5-star reviews about intake vs. reviews about actual IRS case outcomes
- Check CFPB and FTC enforcement history at the federal level, plus state AG actions
- Get total fees and a realistic timeline in writing before you commit
- The comments section below contains real experiences from real clients — read them
Want the full research playbook? My Ultimate Consumer Guide to Checking Out a Debt Relief Company covers every tool and source in this guide — plus detailed walkthroughs for reading BBB profiles, spotting Trustpilot red flags, and searching federal court records on CourtListener.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tax Defense Network a nonprofit?
No, Tax Defense Network is a for-profit company.
How do I file a complaint against Tax Defense Network?
You can file a complaint directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. You can also file with your state attorney general’s office and the BBB. Filing with the CFPB creates a public record and triggers a required company response.
Is Tax Defense Network legitimate?
To verify their current standing, check their BBB profile, the IRS enrolled agent verification database, and their CFPB complaint history.
What does Tax Defense Network do?
Tax Defense Network is a for-profit company that provides tax relief and tax resolution services. They help clients with IRS tax problems, including back taxes, tax liens, tax levies, and unfiled returns, and offer services such as installment agreements, offers in compromise, and penalty abatement.
Should I use Tax Defense Network?
That depends on your specific tax situation. Run it through my Find Your Path tool first.
Share Your Experience with Tax Defense Network
If you’ve worked with Tax Defense Network — as a client, a former employee, or someone who looked into them and decided not to hire them — I’d encourage you to share your experience in the comments. Your perspective helps others make a more informed decision.
To share your experience: Scroll to the bottom of this page — the comments box is there.
Before You Sign Anything: Run any debt relief contract through the free Contract Decoder to spot hidden fees and unfair terms. Check the company’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Compare Your Real Options: Most debt relief companies won’t tell you about all your options — especially the ones they can’t profit from. Credit counseling has a 21-27% completion rate. Settlement resolves about 1% of enrolled debts fully. Bankruptcy has a 95% discharge rate — and protects your retirement. Take the Find Your Path quiz for a recommendation based on your actual numbers.
Browse all Tax Resolution Companies reviews, or see the full Company Reviews directory.
