In a world of get-rich-quick schemes and short-lived businesses with the sole purpose of large profits, it is incredibly important to do your research when seeking out any debt relief agency. In fact, it was for this exact reason the Better Business Bureau (BBB) came to exist.

The Better Business Bureau

The BBB is a nonprofit group with more than a century of experience in the review of businesses throughout the U.S. To state it plainly, this consumer advocacy group works to inform the public on trustworthy (and not-so-trustworthy) businesses.

The BBB reports on things like consumer complaints and customer reviews. They also investigate internal business practices and marketing initiatives to ensure honesty and transparency.

Meaning of an A+ Rating

Ratings on the BBB are similar to grades, with A+ representing the most trustworthy level of business standards.

There are eight major components all businesses are graded on (as taken from the BBB website):

1. Build Trust – A business must show a positive track record in the marketplace.
2. Advertise Honestly – No bait-and-switch advertising or false promises.
3. Tell the Truth – This includes proper disclosures on all products and services.
4. Be Transparent – Openly identify things like ownership, policies, guarantees and procedures.
5. Honor Promises – Honor any written or verbal agreements.
6. Be Responsive – Make a good faith effort to resolve any disputes or complaints.
7. Safeguard Privacy – Properly handle all data and respect the privacy wishes of customers.
8. Embody Integrity – Maintain high standards of honesty, while keeping customer needs at the forefront

If an organization meets a high level of execution in all of these areas, they will be granted the coveted A+ rating.

Direct Tax Relief’s Standing with the BBB

For the past eight years, DTR has maintained an exceptional, A+ rating with the BBB. This is due in part to the number of years we’ve been in business, our low number of consumer complaints (and our handling of such), and the overall integrity with which we run our company.

If it sounds like we’re bragging, you’re right! Honestly, we are proud to be an IRS tax debt relief company that is working for our clients. And the best part is, our customers echo our A+ rating!

The post The Meaning of a BBB A+ Rating for a Tax Debt Relief Agency appeared first on Direct Tax Relief.

TV commercials and online ads are not going to give you the whole story on the quality of service of these companies. Popular companies like JK Harris and TaxMasters both have “F” ratings and have hundreds of complaints filed against them. These companies have closed down and have given the industry a bad name. It is your responsibility to choose wisely. You can also pursue BBB complaints to see which companies have garnered negative feedback. If all else fails, there is also another resourceful website The Rip-off Report, which is an independent report community by regular consumers. Any of these precautionary solutions’ is suitable for the average taxpayer.

Here are our tips for choosing a trustworthy tax resolution company.

As mentioned earlier, researching a tax resolution company with the BBB is very essential. Check their rating, years of operation, and the number of complaints they have. All these can be found on the BBB website.

The firm’s performance in resolving tax disputes, of course, should be the next but not any less important from its BBB rating. How many clients have they successfully represented? What is the total dollar amount settled against the total dollar amount of back taxes, penalties, and fines assessed?

Find out if the staff has a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) certification from the American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS). ASTPS is an IRS-approved national, non-profit organization of professionals who specialize in representing taxpayers before the IRS.

An established tax resolution company must have enough professional experience in the industry. If the company has been in business for less than 5 years, take your business elsewhere.

Be very careful of any tax resolution company that guarantees results. No reputable company will tell you that they can guarantee anything. They will need to scrutinize your situation before they can give you some idea of what the end result might be.

Ask who will be specifically assigned to your case so you know there is a trail of accountability.

Direct Tax Relief is an IRS tax resolution company and has earned an “A” rating with the BBB with ZERO complaints for more than 7 years now with an average settlement record of 12 cents do a dollar.

It is very important that the people representing you before the Internal Revenue Service be professional, ethical, and have good character.

The post Tips in Choosing the Right Tax Resolution Company appeared first on Direct Tax Relief.