Fresh Start Division is two things at once: an editorial resource that publishes free information about IRS tax resolution programs, and a lead generation service that connects taxpayers with licensed partner firms. We make money from the second. The first exists because we believe taxpayers deserve accurate information regardless of whether they ever engage a professional.
Our role: information and matching
Fresh Start Division does not provide tax representation. We do not prepare Offers in Compromise, negotiate installment agreements, or appear before the IRS on behalf of taxpayers. Those services are performed exclusively by the licensed Enrolled Agents, CPAs, and tax attorneys in our partner network. Our role is to: (1) publish accurate information about tax resolution options; and (2) operate the eligibility assessment that matches taxpayers with partner firms based on their situation.
How we make money
When a taxpayer completes our eligibility assessment and chooses to be connected with a partner firm, we receive a referral fee from that firm. Referral fees are paid only when a connection is established — we do not charge taxpayers for any service. Partner firms price their services independently; FSD does not set professional fees, nor do we collect any portion of what a partner charges a taxpayer directly.
We disclose this arrangement clearly because the Federal Trade Commission requires it, and because we believe taxpayers should know how any organization they work with is funded. For readers: this disclosure appears on every content page in our footer, and on our About page.
How we vet partner firms
Not every firm that wants to be in our network is accepted. Our partner vetting includes:
- Licensing verification — All firms must have licensed professionals (Enrolled Agents verified through the IRS Office of Enrollment, CPAs verified through state boards, tax attorneys verified through state bar associations).
- Complaint history review — We check Better Business Bureau records, state attorney general consumer complaints, and FTC enforcement actions.
- Fee transparency — Partner firms must agree to provide taxpayers with written fee structures before engagement.
- No-guarantees commitment — Firms that advertise guaranteed outcomes ("We can settle your debt for pennies on the dollar — guaranteed") are not accepted into our network. No legitimate firm guarantees IRS outcomes.
Our current partner network is listed on our Partner Network page.
What happens when you complete the assessment
- You complete our eligibility assessment — six questions about your tax situation. No fee, no obligation.
- Your information is matched against partner firm specializations (some partners focus on Offers in Compromise, others on payroll tax cases, others on California-specific issues, etc.).
- You are connected with the partner firm that best matches your situation. Typically one firm per taxpayer — we do not flood taxpayers with multiple sales calls.
- The partner firm contacts you for a free consultation. Engagement is your decision. Our referral relationship ends if you do not choose to engage.
Your consumer protections
Working with a partner firm through FSD does not limit your consumer protections. You retain: the right to all Fresh Start Program relief options regardless of representation; the right to terminate a professional engagement at any time; the right to file complaints with state licensing boards, the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility, and consumer protection agencies. See our editorial standards for our specific commitments.
You can also work directly with the IRS
Every IRS relief program is available to taxpayers filing directly, at no cost beyond IRS fees. If your situation is simple — a straightforward installment agreement under $50,000, for example — you may not need professional representation at all. Our guides cover self-directed options alongside professional ones. We would rather you resolve your tax issue successfully, with or without us, than engage a firm you do not actually need.