Quick Answer: Anthem Tax Services 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 Anthem Tax Services. 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 Anthem Tax Services 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 Anthem Tax Services share their experiences there. I’d encourage you to read them and add your own.
Who Is Anthem Tax Services?
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 debt relief company before you sign anything.
Anthem Tax Services 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
Tax relief companies operate in a heavily credentialed field. Here’s what to verify before anything else:
- BBB Profile: Check their Better Business Bureau profile — look at the rating, complaint history, and how they responded to complaints.
- IRS Authorization to Practice: Anyone representing you before the IRS must be an enrolled agent, CPA, or licensed attorney. Verify the credentials of any professional assigned to your case at the IRS enrolled agent database or your state CPA licensing board.
- ASTPS Membership: The American Society of Tax Problem Solvers lists member tax professionals who specialize in IRS resolution work. Verify current membership status there.
- State Licensing: In California and most states, tax practitioners must hold valid state licensing. Verify the licensing status of any individual handling your case with your state’s tax professional licensing board.
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 Anthem Tax Services directly:
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Search Anthem Tax Services’ complaint history in the CFPB database →
When you’re reading complaints, look for:
- What the complaints are about — fees, communication, closed cases, unresolved IRS issues?
- 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 larger company will have more complaints in raw numbers
Step 3: Read Their Trustpilot Reviews
You can find Anthem Tax Services’ 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 enrollment — that’s interaction quality, not results. Compare those against reviews that mention actual IRS outcomes: liens released, offers in compromise accepted, tax debt reduced.
- 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
Tax relief companies are subject to enforcement actions from both tax authorities and consumer protection 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 — the FTC has taken action against deceptive tax relief companies in the past
- IRS Office of Professional Responsibility: The IRS OPR can discipline enrolled agents and other practitioners for misconduct
- State Attorney General: Search “Anthem Tax Services attorney general” and check the California AG’s consumer protection division for state-level actions
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 heavily marketed 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:
- What is the total fee, and at what point is it due — before or after resolution?
- What types of IRS cases does the firm handle — back taxes, levies, liens, offers in compromise, installment agreements?
- Who specifically will be assigned to my case, and what are their credentials?
- What is a realistic timeline for my type of case?
- What happens if the IRS rejects the proposed resolution — is there a fee refund or additional cost?
- What does the money-back guarantee actually cover, and under what conditions does it apply?
Before You Commit: Tax debt problems can sometimes be resolved directly with the IRS through payment plans or offers in compromise without a third party. Run your situation through my Find Your Path tool first.
Key Takeaways
- Verify enrolled agent or CPA credentials and IRS authorization before anything else
- Read CFPB complaints for patterns — not just raw numbers
- On Trustpilot, compare 5-star reviews about interactions vs. reviews about actual IRS outcomes
- Check FTC enforcement history — the FTC monitors the tax relief industry closely
- Get total fees, timeline, case types, and money-back guarantee terms in writing before you sign
- 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 Anthem Tax Services a nonprofit?
No, Anthem Tax Services is a for-profit company.
How do I file a complaint against Anthem Tax Services?
You can file a complaint directly with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. You can also file with the California Attorney General’s office, your own state AG, and the BBB. If a licensed professional behaved improperly, you can also file with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.
Is Anthem Tax Services accredited?
You can check their current credentials through the ASTPS member directory and verify individual practitioner licenses through the IRS and your state CPA or attorney licensing board.
What does Anthem Tax Services do?
Anthem Tax Services is a tax relief company that assists individuals and businesses with IRS tax debt problems. Services typically include negotiating payment plans, offers in compromise, penalty abatement, and representing clients before the IRS. Tax relief is a legitimate field, but the marketing around it can be aggressive.
Should I use Anthem Tax Services?
That depends entirely on your situation. Some IRS problems can be resolved directly without a third-party firm. I’d encourage you to run your situation through my Find Your Path tool before committing to any paid service, and to consult the IRS’s own resources on payment options first.
Share Your Experience with Anthem Tax Services
If you’ve worked with Anthem Tax Services — 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.
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