Quick Answer: Alleviate Tax Relief Services is a for-profit tax relief company. To evaluate whether they’re right for you, I’d encourage you to verify the credentials of their representatives with the IRS, review their BBB complaint history, and read their Trustpilot reviews — here’s how to do each of those.
Before You Read This: I want to be upfront about what this page is and isn’t. I’m not a tax attorney, and I’m not rendering a verdict on Alleviate Tax Relief 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 Alleviate Tax Relief Services and something here is inaccurate, contact me and I’ll review it promptly.
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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 Alleviate Tax Relief Services share their experiences there. I’d encourage you to read them and add your own.
Who Is Alleviate Tax Relief 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.
Alleviate Tax Relief Services is a for-profit tax resolution 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:
- IRS Credentials: Verify representatives are licensed — check at IRS Return Preparer Office
- State Licensing: Some states require separate licensing for tax resolution companies
- BBB Profile: Check their BBB profile
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 Alleviate Tax directly:
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Search Alleviate Tax’s complaint history in the CFPB database →
When you’re reading complaints, look for:
- What the complaints are about — fees, communication problems, results not delivered?
- 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 Alleviate Tax’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 consultation or easy onboarding — that’s interaction quality, not program performance. Compare those against reviews that specifically mention outcomes: tax debt reduced, IRS programs secured, fees 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 “Alleviate Tax attorney general” or “Alleviate Tax settlement” — many enforcement actions happen at the state level
- 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 Enroll
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 service, get clear answers — in writing — to these questions:
- What is the total cost — including both phases of the engagement if the company uses a two-phase model?
- What specific IRS programs are you pursuing on my behalf, and what qualifies me for them?
- Who specifically will handle my case — a licensed CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney?
- What happens if the IRS rejects the proposed resolution — is there additional cost to appeal?
- What does “success” look like, and what percentage of clients see their tax liability reduced?
- What are the terms for a refund if I’m not satisfied with the outcome?
Before You Commit: Tax relief isn’t right for everyone. Some IRS programs have strict eligibility requirements, and a company cannot guarantee an outcome the IRS hasn’t approved. Run your situation through my Find Your Path tool to understand all your options before committing to any service.
Key Takeaways
- Verify IRS credentials for all representatives at the IRS Return Preparer Office before anything else
- Read CFPB complaints for patterns — not just raw numbers
- On Trustpilot, compare 5-star reviews about interactions vs. reviews about actual outcomes
- Check CFPB and FTC enforcement history for any formal actions against the company
- Get all fee information — both phases — in writing before you sign anything
- 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 Alleviate Tax Relief Services a nonprofit?
No. Alleviate Tax Relief Services is a for-profit company. It does not have nonprofit or 501(c)(3) status, which means it operates to generate revenue for its owners rather than for a charitable mission.
How do I file a complaint against Alleviate Tax Relief Services?
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.
Can Alleviate Tax actually reduce what I owe the IRS?
Some IRS programs — like an Offer in Compromise — can result in paying less than the full amount owed, but eligibility is determined by the IRS based on your specific financial situation. No company can guarantee a reduction. Verify your eligibility by visiting the IRS Offer in Compromise page directly.
Should I use Alleviate Tax Relief Services to resolve my tax debt?
That depends entirely on your situation. Tax relief services can be valuable when you have a legitimate IRS resolution option available — but the best path forward depends on the type and amount of tax debt you have and your financial circumstances. I’d encourage you to run your situation through my Find Your Path tool before committing to any program.
Share Your Experience with Alleviate Tax Relief Services
If you’ve worked with Alleviate Tax Relief Services — as a client, a former employee, or someone who looked into them and decided not to enroll — 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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