Fortress Tax Relief

Fortress Tax Relief Reviews

Fortress Tax Relief Reviews
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About Fortress Tax Relief

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

    Verified
    La Pine, OR

    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...

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    Verified
    Lawrenceburg, TN

    From 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...

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    What 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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    1 featured review
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    Page 1 Reviews 0 - 5
    Verified purchase
    PriceStaff

    Reviewed Oct. 1, 2023

    Fortress has been great, and it’s been money well spent. I was in a mess that spanned several tax years, and I’d reached the point where I didn’t realistically know where or how to start unraveling it. From Mike **, who did the initial outreach, to Peter and Karlin, who handled my case, I’ve had a good experience with great results. I’m now on a payment plan with the IRS that will save me thousands of dollars overall, and one of the biggest stressors in my life has been resolved.

    I wish that I had researched this option several years ago - it was the right way to go for me, and of the three firms I talked to when I did my initial research, I was by far the most comfortable with Tax Fortress. My experience working with them to resolve my case has borne that out. They are reassuring, knowledgeable, and effective. I think their services are priced very reasonably, and for what I ended up saving, it would have been worth it to even if they had cost more. I would unhesitatingly recommend tax fortress to anyone in a similar situation, and I will be forever grateful to them.

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    Response from Fortress Tax Relief

    We're glad to hear how happy you were with our services. Thank you for your business and for your review!

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      Customer ServiceCoveragePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Sept. 27, 2023

      Early this year, I was fed up with the SECOND tax resolution company that promised to help me get a handle of my HIGH six figure tax bill. After going back and forth with this company and constantly supplying them information, they came back with a payment plan that was only $200 less than what I had been originally paying with the first company! Total waste of time and money! I was very disappointed. I did not have the resources to cover this expense and my anxiety was through the roof. I just so happened to run across a review for Fortress that stated they were the best in resolving extremely high tax debt and I almost didn't call but something told me to give it one last chance. I am so glad I did!

      From the first call to the last, I have never met a better or more professional set of people! Not only professional but funny and prompt! I specifically worked with Karlin and Peter. After just a few phone calls and a few more emails, they handled it! My tax bill has been settled for a FRACTION of what I owed and the monthly payment is well within my means! I am so glad I took the chance this last time and I hope that someone who is feeling the way I was, stressed, anxious and downright miserable sees this review and gives Fortress a call. You won't regret it! This company should not be kept a secret!

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      Customer ServiceStaffTransparency

      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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      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      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.

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      Response from Fortress Tax Relief

      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!

      Verified purchase
      Staff

      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!

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      Response from Fortress Tax Relief

      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!

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServicePunctuality & Speed

      Reviewed Oct. 30, 2023

      I would really like to thank Foremost, especially David and Shea, for all their hard work. Their communications were always prompt, and they took the time to make sure I understood my options. And, they were able to get results from the IRS extremely quickly! Their efforts were able to reduce my tax debt to just 25% of what I owed, and they set up a very economical pay-back plan for me. The peace of mind was well worth the money. I wish I had contacted them several years ago.

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      Response from Fortress Tax Relief

      Happy clients make us happy! We're so glad you found us. Thank you for your business and for your 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!

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      Response from Fortress Tax Relief

      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!

      Verified purchase

      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.

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      Response from Fortress Tax Relief

      Thank you so much!

      Verified purchase
      Staff

      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.

      Sincerely,

      Julie N. from Portland

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      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.

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      Response from Fortress Tax Relief

      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!

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      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