Owe the IRS? Get a real plan.
A federal tax lien is a fixable problem. Here are the five IRS programs you may qualify for — and the software that helps you file them yourself for roughly 80% less than a tax-relief firm would charge.
See your plan in 60 seconds.
Six questions. Honest recommendations based on the IRS's own qualification rules. No outcome guaranteed.
Question 1 of 6
~60 seconds total
What's the approximate total you owe the IRS?
Including penalties and interest, your best estimate.
Why most people overpay tax-relief firms.
Optima, Anthem, Larson, and Precision all charge flat fees of $3,500–$15,000 for paperwork. Beacon Tax Relief is software for $149/month. Most customers pay approximately 80% less.
| How we compare | Beacon Tax Relief | Optima | Anthem | Larson | Precision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly SaaS — $149/mo | Flat investigation + resolution fee | Flat fee, lender financing | Flat fee, pay-as-you-go | Flat fee, quoted upfront |
| Typical total cost | ~$1,800/yr at $149/mo | $5,000 – $8,000 | Not disclosed publicly | ~$2,400 average | Not published |
| Investigation fee | None — first month covers everything | $295 (sometimes negotiated to $99) | $250 – $500 non-refundable | $0 | $0 (free assessment) |
| Money-back guarantee | 14 days | None publicly stated | Conditional (excludes deposit, prep, bookkeeping) | 15-day satisfaction | 30-day money-back |
| Minimum debt to qualify | None — software is for everyone | ~$10,000 implied | $10,000 | $15,000 | $10,000 |
| You sign every IRS form yourself | Yes | Mixed — Power of Attorney for many filings | Mixed — POA-based representation | POA-based representation | POA-based representation |
| AI-assisted IRS notice decoder | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Pricing published on website | Yes | Phone-only quote | Phone-only quote | Base fee, then quoted | Flat fee on call |
| BBB rating (public) | Pending (new entity) | A (with 780+ complaints) | Available — varies | A+ | A+ |
| Recent enforcement / litigation | None | May 2025 data breach (69GB) | No major recent action | No major recent action | No major recent action |
Competitor data sourced from each firm's public website and BBB profile; compiled in research/incumbent_audit.md. Pricing and program availability may have changed since data collection. Verify with each firm before making a decision.
What customers say.
Outcomes vary. Your situation is unique.
INTERNAL NOTE: Placeholder testimonials. Replace with FTC-compliant customer quotes before any mail drop or paid traffic launch.
“I was about to pay a "tax relief" firm $6,800 to set up an Installment Agreement. I did it myself in two evenings with Beacon Tax Relief for less than $300 total.”
“The notice decoder alone was worth it. I had three IRS letters I had been afraid to open. Forty minutes later I knew exactly what each one meant and what was due when.”
“Honest software. They told me upfront I probably did not qualify for an OIC and pointed me toward CNC. No pressure to upgrade. No one called me. I just used the tool.”
What you get with Beacon Tax Relief.
IRS notice decoder
Upload any IRS letter. We tell you what it means, what is due, and what to do next — in plain English.
Form generation
Forms 9465, 433-F, 433-A(OIC), 656, 843 and more — pre-filled from your profile. You review, sign, and submit.
Deadline tracking
CDP hearing deadlines, CSED tracking, response windows. We text and email reminders so you never miss a deadline.
No salesperson
No phone call. No win-back attempts when you cancel. Cancel any time and keep everything you have generated.
Common questions.
What is a federal tax lien?+
A Notice of Federal Tax Lien (NFTL) is a public filing the IRS uses to claim a legal interest in your property to secure an unpaid tax debt. It attaches to everything you own and is filed at the county level. It does not automatically seize anything — but it complicates refinancing, selling property, and getting new credit.
Will Beacon Tax Relief talk to the IRS for me?+
No. Beacon Tax Relief is a software company, not a representative. You sign and submit every IRS form yourself. We give you the guidance, the pre-filled forms, and the deadlines. You stay in control of every filing.
How is this different from Optima, Anthem, or Larson?+
Traditional tax-relief firms charge a flat fee of $3,500–$15,000 to fill out IRS forms and act as your representative under a Power of Attorney. Beacon Tax Relief is software at $149/month — most customers pay roughly 80% less. The catch: you are the one signing and submitting forms. The upside: you control the process, the timeline, and the cost.
Can I really settle for less than I owe?+
The IRS has a program called Offer in Compromise (OIC) that lets some taxpayers do exactly that. It uses a strict formula called Reasonable Collection Potential (RCP). Not everyone qualifies. The IRS published acceptance rate hovers around 30%. We do not promise any outcome — we help you prepare the strongest possible application.
What if I got a Letter 1058 or LT11?+
Those are Final Notices of Intent to Levy. You generally have 30 days from the date on the letter to request a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing, which halts most collection while it is pending. The CDP request deadline is hard — if you miss it, your options narrow significantly. The 60-second assessment above will flag this for you.
I have unfiled tax returns. Can I still resolve this?+
You generally have to be in "filing compliance" — meaning all required returns filed — before the IRS will consider an Installment Agreement, OIC, or CNC status. Beacon Tax Relief helps you organize records to file the back returns first, then enter the resolution program.
What does $149/month actually include?+
IRS notice decoder, full form generation (9465, 433-F, 433-A(OIC), 656, 843, and others), deadline tracking, document organization, and AI-assisted plain-English guidance. You cancel any time and keep everything you have generated.
Is my data secure?+
Yes — bank-level encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access internally, and we never sell or share your financial information. We follow the GLBA Safeguards Rule for financial institutions and the IRS IRC §7216 consent rules for tax preparers.
How do I cancel?+
One click in your account, any time. 14-day money-back on your first month. No win-back calls, no exit interviews. You keep every PDF and worksheet you have generated.
Sixty seconds to see your options.
No phone call. No firm fees. No commitment.