Quick Answer: Larson Tax Relief is a for-profit tax resolution company based in Westminster, Colorado, that employs Enrolled Agents and CPAs to help individuals and businesses resolve IRS and state tax debts.
Heads Up: I am not affiliated with Larson Tax Relief and I receive no compensation for reviewing them. This guide walks you through the public records that tell you more than any company’s own marketing ever will — before you hand over a retainer fee.
Tax debt is one of the most stressful financial situations a person can face. The IRS has powers that credit card companies do not — levies, liens, wage garnishment, asset seizure. That urgency creates a feeding ground for predatory marketing. Most tax relief companies you will find online spend more on advertising than on actual IRS negotiators. Doing a few minutes of public record research before you pay a retainer could save you thousands of dollars and months of frustration.
Here is how to research Larson Tax Relief — or any tax resolution firm — using free public tools.
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Who Is Larson Tax Relief?
Larson Tax Relief is a for-profit tax resolution company operating under Larson Financial, Inc., licensed in Colorado with offices in Westminster.
Tax debt comes with a built-in anxiety that makes people act fast and check later. That is exactly backwards. Do the research first — it takes thirty minutes and it is free.— Steve Rhode
Not Sure Tax Relief Is Your Only Option? If your tax debt is part of a broader financial crisis, use my Find Your Path tool to see how tax debt fits into your overall picture. Sometimes bankruptcy is the faster, cleaner path — including for tax debt that meets specific criteria.
Step 1: Check Their Professional Credentials
The IRS only allows certain credentialed professionals to represent taxpayers before the agency. These are called “Practitioners with Unlimited Representation Rights” under Circular 230. Anyone claiming to do IRS tax relief must either be an Enrolled Agent, CPA, or attorney — or must work under someone who is.
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IRS Enrolled Agent Verification
Enrolled Agents (EAs) are federally licensed tax practitioners who have passed the IRS Special Enrollment Examination or worked for the IRS for five or more years. You can verify an Enrolled Agent’s credentials and whether they are in good standing through the IRS Return Preparer Office. Search at irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf. Ask any Larson Tax Relief representative you speak with for the name and EA license number of the person who will actually be representing you — then verify it.
NAEA Membership
The National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) is the professional body for EAs. Membership requires continuing education and adherence to ethical standards. Larson Tax Relief has stated NAEA affiliation. Verify current member status at naea.org.
State Licensing
Tax relief companies must comply with state licensing requirements in the states where they operate. Some states require specific bonding or registration for debt settlement and tax resolution services. Check your state attorney general’s consumer protection division for any licensing requirements or complaints in your state.
BBB Standing
Larson Tax Relief holds an A+ BBB rating and has been accredited since 2006. Check current standing and read the actual complaint narratives — not just the rating — at bbb.org. Some BBB complaints about tax relief companies describe fee transparency issues and communication problems after the initial retainer is paid — those narratives are the most informative part of any BBB profile.
Common Misconception: “If someone says they are an ‘IRS-certified’ or ‘IRS-approved’ tax relief company, that means the IRS endorses them.” The IRS does not certify, endorse, or approve any private tax relief company. That language is a marketing construction. What matters is whether the individual practitioner is an EA, CPA, or attorney in good standing — verify that directly.
Step 2: Search the CFPB Complaint Database
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau maintains a searchable database of consumer complaints against financial service providers. While the CFPB’s primary jurisdiction covers financial products, tax resolution companies that also offer debt-related services can appear in this database.
Search for Larson Tax Relief and Larson Financial at consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints. At the time this guide was written, no complaints appeared under either name. Run your own search for current data.
For tax-specific complaints, also check the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) discipline list, which publishes names of practitioners who have been sanctioned: irs.gov/tax-professionals/opr.
Step 3: Read Third-Party Reviews
Larson Tax Relief has an active Trustpilot profile with a large review volume. Review it at trustpilot.com/review/www.larsontaxrelief.com. The aggregate rating has been high, but the pattern of critical reviews matters more than the number of five-star responses. Look specifically for complaints about:
- Fee transparency — were the total costs clearly disclosed before signing?
- Resolution timelines — did the case take dramatically longer than initially represented?
- Communication — were clients kept informed, or left in the dark after paying?
- Refund process — when clients were dissatisfied, were refund requests honored?
Additional sources: ConsumerAffairs, Yelp, and Google Maps reviews for the Westminster office.
Step 4: Check for Enforcement History
For a for-profit tax relief company, the most important public record check — beyond individual practitioner credentials — is whether the company or its principals have faced regulatory enforcement actions.
- FTC actions: The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against fraudulent tax relief firms. Search ftc.gov/enforcement for any action involving Larson.
- State AG actions: State attorneys general, particularly Colorado and Oregon (where Larson has marketed heavily), sometimes pursue consumer protection actions against tax relief firms. Search your state AG website.
- IRS OPR discipline: If any Larson practitioner has been suspended or disbarred from IRS practice, that appears in the OPR discipline list linked above.
At the time this guide was written, no enforcement actions from the FTC, CFPB, or IRS OPR were found for Larson Tax Relief or its principals. That is a positive signal — verify it independently for the most current picture.
The Retainer Reality: Most tax relief companies collect a significant retainer upfront — often $2,000–$5,000 — before doing any substantive work. Once you have paid, your leverage as a customer drops significantly. This is exactly why you do the research before paying, not after.
Step 5: Ask These Questions Before You Pay Anything
Any legitimate tax resolution firm should be able to answer these questions clearly before you sign an engagement letter or pay a retainer:
- Who specifically will be representing me before the IRS, and what are their credentials and EA/CPA number?
- What is the total estimated fee for my case, and what does it include?
- What tax relief programs am I likely to qualify for based on my situation?
- What is your refund policy if you cannot resolve my case?
- How long, realistically, will my case take from start to resolution?
If the answers are vague or the representative pressures you to sign or pay before answering these questions, that is a red flag regardless of the company’s rating.
Key Takeaways
- Larson Tax Relief is a for-profit company — verify the individual EA or CPA credentials at irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf before anyone represents you
- A+ BBB rating since 2006 and a strong Trustpilot profile — read the complaint narratives, not just the aggregate score
- Zero CFPB complaints found — search consumerfinance.gov yourself for current data
- No FTC or IRS OPR enforcement actions found — verify independently at the sources linked above
- Never pay a retainer before getting clear answers on who is representing you, what it costs, and the refund terms
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Larson Tax Relief a legitimate company?
Larson Tax Relief is a registered for-profit business based in Westminster, Colorado. They hold an A+ BBB rating and employ Enrolled Agents to represent taxpayers before the IRS. As with any tax relief company, verify the specific practitioner’s credentials through the IRS Return Preparer Office before signing anything.
Does Larson Tax Relief have complaints?
The CFPB complaint database shows no complaints under Larson Tax Relief or Larson Financial. The BBB profile includes some complaint narratives — read those directly at bbb.org for the most complete picture. Trustpilot reviews are mixed, with the majority positive but some critical reviews about communication and fee transparency.
How do I verify Larson Tax Relief’s credentials?
Ask for the name and Enrolled Agent number of the practitioner who will represent your case, then verify their status and standing at irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf. Also confirm NAEA membership at naea.org and check the IRS OPR discipline list for any sanctions.
Are there other options besides hiring a tax relief company?
Yes. If you owe less than $50,000, you may be able to set up an IRS installment agreement directly on irs.gov without a middleman. If your debt is larger or your situation is complex, an Enrolled Agent or tax attorney hired directly may cost less than a full-service tax relief firm. In some cases — especially when the tax debt cannot be discharged — bankruptcy may restructure your overall financial picture in a way that makes the tax debt more manageable. Use my Find Your Path tool at getoutofdebt.org to think through all options.
Share Your Experience
Have you worked with Larson Tax Relief or another tax resolution company? Your real experience — especially about what happened after you paid the retainer — helps other people make better decisions before they commit. Leave a comment below or reach out through the site.
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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