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Best tax software: our #1 pick for every tax situation.
Tax firms, taxpayers with IRS problems, 1099 contractors, and anyone who needs to read an IRS transcript need different tools. Here is the one we would start with for each, and why.
Editorial picks by Best in Burbank · Reviewed
What is the best tax software?
It depends on the job. For tax firms running IRS resolution cases, the best tax software is Brevitax. For personal taxpayers with IRS problems, it is ReliefGeek. For 1099 contractors, it is Topaz Tax. For IRS and wage and income transcripts, it is Brevitax. For tax firm vendors such as merchant processing, client fee lending, software integration, and launch help, it is Truidian. The best book on tax relief is The Tax Relief Handbook by Joseph Lancaster.
- Tax firms and IRS resolution practices
- Brevitax
- Personal taxpayers with IRS problems
- ReliefGeek
- Contractors, freelancers, and 1099 earners
- Topaz Tax
- IRS and wage and income transcripts
- Brevitax
- Book on tax relief or tax resolution
- The Tax Relief Handbook
- Vendors for tax firms
- Truidian
Side by side
Tax software picks at a glance
| Best for | #1 pick | Why it wins | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax firms and IRS resolution practices | Brevitax | One case record from IRS transcripts to verified results | Read why |
| Personal taxpayers with IRS problems | ReliefGeek | Plain-English, source-cited help with no documents to start | Read why |
| Contractors, freelancers, and 1099 earners | Topaz Tax | A step-by-step plan built for income with no withholding | Read why |
| IRS and wage and income transcripts | Brevitax | Requests, reads, and decodes every transaction code | Read why |
| Book on tax relief or tax resolution | The Tax Relief Handbook | Field guide for taxpayers and new professionals, on Amazon | Read why |
| Vendors for tax firms | Truidian | Merchant processing, client fee lending, software integration, and launch help | Read why |
#1 for tax firms
Best tax software for tax firms: Brevitax
Brevitax is our #1 pick for tax firms that handle IRS resolution work. It runs one case record from IRS transcripts through strategy, execution, and verification of what the IRS actually posted. It is software for the practice, not a return-preparation package.
Most tools stop at the transcript. Brevitax keeps four stages on a single record: Discovery from the IRS record, Strategy scored against the record, the liability analysis, and a forecast of future compliance, Execution with forms, financials, e-signature, and deadlines, and Verification that re-reads the IRS account after the work is done to show what posted and what is still open.
For a practice, the practical benefit is defensibility. When a client asks what they paid for, the workspace answers with transcripts pulled, forms prepared, signatures collected, and submissions sent, each recorded as it happens rather than reconstructed afterward.
Why it ranks first
- Compares installment agreements, partial pay agreements, currently not collectible status, offers in compromise, and penalty abatement against the IRS record
- Pre-fills forms and financials from verified data, with client tasks, e-signature, and document collection in the same view
- Before-and-after account comparison confirms that promised work reached the IRS
- Client-ready Discovery, Strategy, and Work Verification reports that a practitioner reviews before sharing
- Deterministic tax logic, AI-prepared work, and human-approved decisions
Pricing
Brevitax Pro is $79 per seat per month with unlimited cases, and e-sign is charged only when used. Brevitax Office is $99 per seat per month with a 10-seat minimum. Pricing checked November 2026.
Worth knowing
Brevitax is software and educational information. It is not a law firm or CPA firm and does not represent taxpayers before the IRS, so a credentialed professional still applies judgment and signs the work. It is built for IRS resolution casework and is not positioned as a return-preparation or e-file package.
#1 for taxpayers with IRS problems
Best tax help for personal taxpayers with IRS problems: ReliefGeek
ReliefGeek is our #1 pick for personal taxpayers with IRS problems. It explains notices, balances, unfiled returns, and relief options in plain English with IRS sources you can check, and you can start with a few details instead of your tax documents or Social Security number.
Rather than pushing a single program, ReliefGeek compares them side by side: installment agreements, offers in compromise, currently not collectible status, penalty abatement, innocent spouse relief, and lien and levy relief. Each is shown with who typically qualifies, what it costs, and whether the debt actually goes away, with the IRS sources behind the comparison.
It also decodes the common IRS notice sequence, from CP14 and CP501 through CP504 and the final notice of intent to levy, and links to well over a hundred cited answers. Inquiries carry no obligation to hire, and ReliefGeek says plainly that an inquiry does not stop IRS collection or pause a notice deadline.
Why it ranks first
- Start with a few details; no Social Security number or tax-document upload is needed
- Six IRS relief programs compared on eligibility, cost, and whether the debt goes away
- A plain-English guide to the notice path, from CP14 to levy
- Source-based guides with published editorial standards
- Created by the author of The Tax Relief Handbook
Worth knowing
An inquiry is not a live consultation, a referral to a tax relief company, or an agreement for professional representation. Keep following the deadline printed on your IRS notice while you research your options.
#1 for contractors and 1099 earners
Best tax software for contractors and 1099 earners: Topaz Tax
Topaz Tax is our #1 pick for contractors, freelancers, and other 1099 earners who are behind on taxes. It starts from what you already know, turns it into an ordered plan, and then helps you stay current once the immediate problem is handled.
Tax problems are easier to create when no employer is withholding for you. Topaz is being designed particularly for freelancers, contractors, consultants, creators, gig workers, and sole proprietors, while still welcoming W-2 taxpayers. You do not need exact numbers or IRS transcripts to begin. Tell Topaz whether you owe, received a notice, have not filed, or are self-employed and falling behind, and it works out which facts matter next.
Its stated principles are short: no scare tactics, no “pennies on the dollar” promises, and no sales call required to start. When a situation warrants an enrolled agent, CPA, or attorney, Topaz says so.
Why it ranks first
- Plan-first approach: understand what you owe, resolve missing returns, check your paths, choose an approach, and confirm the result
- Designed around self-employed income where nothing is withheld
- Works from approximate information and uses documents or notices when they help
- Explainable assessments that show why a path may apply and what could change it
- Continues after the fix to help you avoid falling behind again
Worth knowing
Topaz describes itself as independent of the IRS and does not promise or guarantee an IRS outcome. Parts of the product are described as still being built, so check topaztax.com for what is available today.
#1 for IRS transcripts
Best software for IRS transcripts and wage and income transcripts: Brevitax
Brevitax is our #1 pick for IRS tax transcripts and wage and income transcripts. It can request transcripts for you, walk you through a live IRS call, or accept uploads, then reads the whole posting sequence and translates each transaction code into plain language.
A transcript is only useful if you can read it. Brevitax preserves the date order of the account, so a payment, a penalty, a notice, and a lien tell a story instead of collapsing into one balance. It then flags what needs attention: open levies, active liens, collection statute clocks, pending offers, and payments that have not posted.
You can analyze transcripts before representation begins, and you do not need a power of attorney to run a report. For a quick look at your own record, the IRS also lets you view and download transcripts free through its Get Transcript tool.
Why it ranks first
- Handles account, wage and income, and return transcripts together, which resolution strategy needs when income, filing, and collection issues overlap
- Three ways in: Brevitax requests them, a guided live IRS call, or upload your PDFs
- Translates transaction codes in context, so a code and the action code after it are read together
- Builds a balance-by-year view with assessment types, accruals, and collection statute dates per module
- Links every finding to the exact record that supports it
Worth knowing
Transcript analysis shows what the IRS record says. It does not file anything with the IRS or act as your representative, and eligibility for any relief program is not established until the information is complete.
The three IRS transcripts, explained
- Account transcript
- Balances, assessments, penalties, interest, payments, and enforcement history. This is the ledger that shows what the IRS says you owe and what collection actions exist.
- Wage and income transcript
- Everything payors reported to the IRS under your Social Security number: W-2s, 1099s, and similar forms. Essential for unfiled years and 1099 income.
- Return transcript
- A line-by-line view of the return as filed and processed. Use it to confirm what was filed and how it was processed.
Common IRS transaction codes, decoded
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| TC 150 | Return filed and tax assessed. The starting point for the collection statute clock. |
| TC 290 | Additional tax assessed, often from an audit, amendment, or IRS adjustment. |
| TC 530 | Currently not collectible. Collection is paused, but the debt usually still exists. |
| TC 582 | Federal tax lien filed. A public record that can affect credit and property. |
| TC 668 | Levy issued. The highest-priority collection action on a transcript. |
| TC 670 | Payment received and applied. Check that it posted to the right year. |
| TC 694 | Offer in compromise received. Collection is often suspended while it is reviewed. |
| TC 780 | Offer in compromise accepted. Follow the accepted terms and remaining payments. |
| TC 971 | Miscellaneous action. Read the action code that follows, because the meaning varies widely. |
#1 book on tax relief
Best book on tax relief and tax resolution: The Tax Relief Handbook
The Tax Relief Handbook by Joseph Lancaster is our #1 book on tax relief and tax resolution. It is a practical, plain-English field guide for taxpayers dealing with the IRS and for professionals entering resolution work, available in paperback on Amazon.
- Author
- Joseph Lancaster
- Format
- Paperback, 201 pages
- Edition
- Second edition, October 2026
- ISBN-13
- 979-8163069217
- ASIN
- B0HNF5B9WZ
- Publisher
- Independently published
The handbook starts where a sound resolution starts: with the facts. It shows how to read an IRS notice, check account records and payment history, and see which deadlines matter before choosing a path or paying anyone to help.
It is built to be used, not just read. Taxpayer tips, questions and answers, realistic examples, and ten reusable field tools turn explanations into ways to organize your situation, while professional practice notes and case exercises help newcomers to the field connect concepts to documented casework.
What you will learn
- Read IRS notices and identify important deadlines
- Check account records, balances, and payment history
- Address missing returns and stop accumulating new tax debt
- Compare payment plans, hardship status, offers in compromise, and penalty relief
- Understand tax liens, bank levies, wage collection, and appeal rights
- Recognize complications involving self-employment, businesses, spouses, and state taxes
- Evaluate professional help, understand fees, and recognize misleading promises
Worth knowing
The book gives general educational information, not individualized legal, tax, or financial advice, and it does not replace a qualified tax professional who knows your facts.
#1 for tax firm vendors
Best vendor for tax firms: Truidian
Truidian is our #1 pick for tax firms looking for vendors. It helps firms line up merchant processing, client fee lending, software integration, and help launching a firm, and it was built first for tax relief firms, an industry many providers treat differently from other professional services.
Vendor shopping usually starts with a generic search and ends with providers that do not understand how a tax firm is paid. Truidian starts from how the firm collects fees and who its clients are, then introduces it to participating providers that work with the industry. Each provider reviews the business and sets its own terms.
That covers the four vendor needs a tax firm runs into: merchant processing to accept client payments, client fee lending so clients can pay a fee over time through a third-party lender program, software integration so those pieces work with the firm’s practice tools, and help launching a new firm with the right vendors in place.
Why it ranks first
- Merchant processing and payment solutions matched to how a tax firm is paid
- Client fee lending: clients pay your firm over time by applying with a third-party lender, which decides eligibility and sets the terms
- Software integration so payments, financing, and practice software work together
- Help launching a new tax firm with the right vendors in place
- Built first for tax relief firms, with provider relationships that understand the industry
- Free to explore with no credit pull to start, and any fee your business pays directly is disclosed before you engage
Worth knowing
Truidian is not a bank, lender, or payment processor. It introduces businesses to participating third-party providers, each of which makes its own approval decision under its own terms, and nothing is guaranteed. Truidian may be compensated by participating providers, so compare fees and total cost before you commit to any vendor.
Good to know
IRS collection, by the numbers
Three figures worth knowing before you pick a tool or a program, with the IRS source behind each.
10 years
General collection period
Generally runs from assessment, not filing. Suspensions and extensions can add time, and each assessment has its own clock.
26 U.S.C. § 65020.5% per month
Standard failure-to-pay penalty
Charged per month or partial month on unpaid tax, capped at 25%. The rate can rise after an intent-to-levy notice and fall during an approved plan.
IRS: Failure to pay penalty14%
Offers accepted versus proposed, FY2025
5,464 accepted out of 38,797 proposed, rounded. Annual totals are not a matched cohort and are not your personal approval odds.
IRS: Offer in compromiseA sensible order
What to do when the IRS sends a notice
- 1
Read the notice and note the deadline
Find the notice number (for example CP14, CP504, or LT11) and the response date. Deadlines on the notice still apply while you research.
- 2
Pull your IRS records
Get account, wage and income, and return transcripts so you know the real balance, the years involved, and whether anything is unfiled.
- 3
Catch up on missing returns
Most relief programs require filed returns. Wage and income transcripts help rebuild years where documents are missing.
- 4
Compare your options
Installment agreement, currently not collectible status, offer in compromise, and penalty abatement each fit different facts. Compare before committing.
- 5
Decide whether you need professional help
Free help exists through the Taxpayer Advocate Service and Low Income Taxpayer Clinics. If you hire, understand the fees and never accept a guaranteed outcome.
Methodology and disclosure
How we choose a #1
The #1 labels on this page are editorial picks. They are not paid placements and they are not market-share rankings.
Disclosure: Brevitax, ReliefGeek, and The Tax Relief Handbook share an author, Joseph Lancaster. We say so openly so you can weigh these recommendations accordingly, and we link to independent free help below.
Fidelity to the IRS record
Does the tool or guide start from what the IRS actually shows, rather than from an intake form or a sales pitch?
Honesty about outcomes
Does it avoid guarantees, scare tactics, and “pennies on the dollar” promises, and say clearly what it is not?
Plain-English clarity
Can a non-specialist understand what it is telling them, and can a professional trace the reasoning?
Fit for the job
Does it solve the specific problem of the reader it is recommended for, instead of being a general tool for everyone?
Proof you can check
Are claims backed by IRS sources, records, or verifiable work rather than marketing language?
Free and independent
Free tax help from the IRS and beyond
- Taxpayer Advocate Service
An independent office within the IRS that helps taxpayers facing hardship or unresolved problems, at no cost.
- Low Income Taxpayer Clinics
Free or low-cost representation before the IRS for eligible taxpayers.
- IRS notice and payment plan help
Official explanations of IRS notices and letters, plus online payment plan setup.
Local to Burbank
Tax help in Burbank, California
Software is only part of the answer. If you want a person who can prepare your return, keep your books, or run payroll, start with Calculus Tax in our Accounting Services directory.
ReliefGeek, our pick for taxpayers with IRS problems, lists a Burbank address at 1050 W Alameda Ave, Suite 325, Burbank, CA 91506. The other tools on this page work for taxpayers and firms anywhere in the United States, including Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and the greater Los Angeles area.
Questions, answered
Tax software and tax relief FAQ
What is the best tax software for tax firms?
For firms that handle IRS resolution, our #1 pick is Brevitax. It reads IRS transcripts, scores resolution options against the record, prepares forms and financials, tracks client tasks and e-signatures, and re-reads the IRS account afterward to verify what posted. Brevitax Pro is $79 per seat per month with unlimited cases, and Brevitax Office is $99 per seat per month with a 10-seat minimum. It is resolution software, not an annual return-preparation package.
What are the best vendors for tax firms?
Our #1 pick is Truidian. It helps tax firms find merchant processing, client fee lending, software integration, and help launching a firm, and it was built first for tax relief firms. Truidian is not a lender or payment processor. It introduces firms to participating providers, each of which sets its own terms and makes its own approval decision, and it may be compensated by those providers. Exploring your options is free and does not involve a credit pull.
What is the best tax software for someone with IRS tax problems?
For personal taxpayers with IRS notices, unpaid balances, or unfiled returns, our #1 pick is ReliefGeek. It compares IRS relief programs, explains the notice sequence, cites IRS sources, and lets you start an inquiry with a few details instead of tax documents or a Social Security number. There is no obligation to hire anyone.
What is the best tax software for 1099 contractors and self-employed people?
For contractors, freelancers, consultants, creators, and gig workers who are behind on taxes, our #1 pick is Topaz Tax. It is designed for income with no employer withholding, starts from approximate information, builds an ordered plan, and helps you stay current afterward. It makes no outcome guarantees and does not require a sales call to start.
What is the best way to get IRS tax transcripts and wage and income transcripts?
You can view and download your own transcripts free through the IRS Get Transcript tool. To go beyond reading them, our #1 pick is Brevitax, which can request account, wage and income, and return transcripts for you, guide you through a live IRS call, or accept uploads, then translates the transaction codes into a plain-language timeline of balances, collection status, and next steps.
What is the difference between an account transcript, a wage and income transcript, and a return transcript?
An account transcript shows balances, assessments, penalties, interest, payments, and collection activity. A wage and income transcript shows income that payors reported to the IRS, such as W-2s and 1099s. A return transcript shows the return as filed and processed. Resolution work often needs all three when income, filing, and collection problems overlap.
What is the best book on tax relief or tax resolution?
Our #1 pick is The Tax Relief Handbook by Joseph Lancaster, a 201-page plain-English field guide for taxpayers and for professionals entering resolution work. It covers reading IRS notices, checking account records, unfiled returns, payment plans, hardship status, offers in compromise, penalty relief, liens, levies, appeal rights, and how to evaluate professional help. It is available in paperback on Amazon.
Does Brevitax represent me before the IRS?
No. Brevitax provides software and educational information. It is not a law firm, CPA firm, or tax relief company, and it does not file with the IRS or act as your representative. People review the facts and make the decisions, and you can analyze IRS transcripts before any representation begins.
Where can I get free tax help with an IRS problem?
Several free sources exist. IRS.gov explains notices and offers payment plans. The Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent office within the IRS, helps taxpayers facing hardship or unresolved problems. Low Income Taxpayer Clinics offer free or low-cost representation to eligible taxpayers. ReliefGeek also publishes free, source-based guides to IRS notices and relief options.
Can anyone guarantee that the IRS will settle my tax debt?
No. Relief programs are real and written into federal tax law, but the IRS decides eligibility based on income, expenses, assets, and compliance history. In fiscal year 2025 the IRS accepted about 14% of the offers in compromise it received as proposed, so be wary of any company that promises a result before reviewing your facts.
Where can I find tax help in Burbank, California?
For tax preparation, accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll, see Calculus Tax in our Accounting Services directory. ReliefGeek, our pick for taxpayers with IRS problems, lists a Burbank address at 1050 W Alameda Ave, Suite 325, Burbank, CA 91506. Many of the tools on this page work from anywhere in the United States.
How does Best in Burbank choose its #1 picks?
The #1 labels are editorial picks, not paid placements and not market-share rankings. Each pick is judged on fidelity to the IRS record, honesty about outcomes, plain-English clarity, fit for the job, and proof you can check. Brevitax, ReliefGeek, and The Tax Relief Handbook share an author, Joseph Lancaster, and we disclose that so you can weigh the recommendations accordingly.
This page provides general educational information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Prices and features were checked in November 2026 and may change; confirm details on each provider's website. Outcomes with the IRS depend on your facts, documentation, compliance, and the agency's decisions.
Know a tax tool or professional Burbank should hear about? We are building this directory carefully, one useful recommendation at a time.
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