Six phases. A dedicated case manager. Honest timelines. This page covers what Tax Network USA does at every step β and what to expect from the IRS while they do it.
The Process
Every case runs through the same framework. The timelines vary. The path does not.
When you hire Tax Network USA, you are assigned a dedicated case manager. That person handles your account from investigation through resolution. They are your primary point of contact β not a call center, not a rotating queue of agents.
TheΒ teamΒ working your case will likely include a licensed Enrolled Agent, a CPA, or a Tax Attorney, depending on what your situation requires. Your case manager coordinates all of that internally. You do not need to track down multiple people.
Tax Network USA has more than 120 people on staff. The case manager structure exists specifically so that scale does not mean you get lost in it.
Your case manager’s direct phone and email are provided when your engagement starts. Call or email directly. If you go through the main line, the front desk will take a message that routes to your case manager, not into a generic inbox.
Reach out and ask for a status update. Your case manager will tell you where the IRS is in the process and what the next expected milestone looks like. You should never feel like you are chasing a company that took your money and disappeared.
Most active case work is paperwork β IRS correspondence, financial package preparation, transcript review, deadline tracking. It does not involve phone calls to you. That is not inactivity. It is the job.
Escalate it. Ask for a written update on what has been filed, what the IRS has responded, and what is pending. Any legitimate firm can produce that on request.
Realistic Expectations
These are real ranges, not marketing estimates. The IRS controls most of the timeline once we file. Cases that involve unfiled returns, appeals, or complications run toward the longer end.
These are typical ranges based on Tax Network USA’s case history. Your actual timeline depends on your specific situation, how quickly you provide required documents, and IRS processing times β which vary significantly and are outside of anyone’s control. We will give you a realistic estimate for your case specifically after the financial analysis is complete.
What Silence Means
The most common source of frustration in tax resolution is the quiet stretch after the initial paperwork is filed. No calls, no emails, no updates for weeks. It reads like nothing is happening.
In most cases, the IRS has the ball. After we file your resolution application, the IRS puts it in a processing queue. That queue can be weeks or months long depending on the resolution type and IRS workload. There is nothing to report until they respond.
That said, you should never feel like you have no idea where your case stands. If you need a status update, ask for one. Your case manager can tell you what was filed, what the IRS has responded, what is pending, and when the next milestone is expected.
Yes, for the right situations. Tax Network USA has resolved more than $500 million in tax debt for over 30,000 clients. The key word is resolved β not every case ends in a dramatic reduction. Some clients qualify for Offers in Compromise, others get installment agreements or penalty abatement. What determines the outcome is your financial picture, not a sales pitch. Tax Network USA will tell you honestly what your situation supports before any strategy is filed.
It depends on your situation. If you owe less than $10,000, the fees may exceed the benefit and you can likely resolve it directly with the IRS yourself. If the debt is larger, involves multiple years of unfiled returns, or you are facing active enforcement like a wage garnishment or bank levy, professional representation typically produces better outcomes. Tax Network USA offers a free consultation to tell you honestly whether professional help is worth it β or whether the direct IRS route makes more sense for your case.
Most tax relief companies, including Tax Network USA, charge in two stages. The first is an investigation fee to review your IRS transcripts, analyze your finances, and identify which programs you qualify for. The second is a resolution fee, which is scoped after the investigation because it depends on the strategy your case calls for β an installment agreement costs less than an Offer in Compromise. Tax Network USA will not proceed to the resolution phase without your agreement to the full cost upfront.
A tax relief company acts as your representative with the IRS. At Tax Network USA, that means filing a Power of Attorney so your case manager can pull your IRS transcripts and handle all IRS communication, conducting a full financial analysis to determine which resolution programs you qualify for, preparing and submitting the resolution application, and managing the case through to final resolution. They handle the paperwork, the negotiations, and the IRS deadlines.
The IRS sets the timeline, not Tax Network USA. An installment agreement typically takes 2 to 6 months. Penalty abatement takes 3 to 6 months. An Offer in Compromise takes 12 to 24 months because the IRS has up to 24 months by law to evaluate it. Currently Not Collectible status takes 2 to 4 months. Tax Network USA will give you a realistic estimate for your specific situation once the financial analysis is complete.
Yes. The IRS has online tools for installment agreements and accepts Offer in Compromise applications directly. If your situation is straightforward and your debt is manageable, going direct can save money. Where professional representation earns its cost is in cases with large balances, multiple years of unfiled returns, active enforcement actions, or situations where financial analysis is needed to find the best resolution path. Tax Network USA will tell you during the free consultation if the direct IRS route is genuinely the better option for your case.
Check the credentials of the people who will actually work your case β enrolled agents, CPAs, or licensed tax attorneys. Verify them through the IRS Return Preparer Directory and your state bar. Watch for red flags: demanding the full fee upfront before any work begins, guaranteeing a specific outcome, pressuring you to sign immediately, or giving vague answers about who handles your case. Tax Network USA employs licensed enrolled agents, CPAs, and tax attorneys, holds an A+ BBB rating, and will not start resolution work without explaining the full cost and strategy first.
These are two separate scopes of work. The investigation phase covers pulling your IRS transcripts, reviewing your financial situation, and determining which resolution programs you qualify for β this is the initial fee. The resolution phase is the actual negotiation work: preparing and filing an Offer in Compromise, setting up an installment agreement, requesting penalty abatement, or another strategy. The resolution cost can only be quoted after the investigation is complete, because the strategy depends on what the investigation reveals. Tax Network USA explains both costs clearly before any phase begins.
The free consultation is 30 to 60 minutes with a licensed tax professional β not a salesperson. You will leave the call knowing what you qualify for and what a realistic resolution looks like. No obligation to go further.