TaxRise vs. Anthem Tax Services: The Ultimate 2026 Comparison for Debtors

Last updated 03/24/2026 by

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Summary:

Anthem Tax Services discloses a $3,000 average fee, charges no retainer, and holds a strongly recommended SuperMoney rating — but requires $20,000 minimum and no flexible payments. TaxRise accepts cases from $5,000 with flexible payment options, but charges a retainer and doesn’t disclose fees. If you owe under $20,000 or need to pay in installments, TaxRise is your only viable option of the two — above that threshold, Anthem’s transparency and reputation give it a clear edge.

TaxRise vs. Anthem Tax Services at a Glance

For taxpayers with $20,000 or more in tax debt, Anthem Tax Services leads on fee transparency and community reputation. TaxRise is the only option of the two if you owe under $20,000 — and the stronger choice if you need flexible payments.

Here’s how the two compare on the features that matter most:

Feature	TaxRise	Anthem Tax Services
Min. Tax Debt Required	$5,000	$20,000
Average Fee	Not disclosed	$3,000
Range of Fees	Not disclosed	Starting at $425
Retainer Fee	Yes	No
Flexible Payments	Yes	No
Money-Back Guarantee	Yes	Yes
CPAs on Staff	Yes	No
Enrolled Agents on Staff	Yes	Yes
Tax Attorneys on Staff	Yes	Yes
States Offered	All 50 states	All 50 states + DC
SuperMoney User Score	mostly not recommended	strongly recommended

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose TaxRise if…

You owe between $5,000 and $19,999 in tax debt — TaxRise’s lower threshold makes it your only option of the two if your balance falls in this range.
You need flexible payment options for resolution fees — Anthem Tax Services does not offer flexible payments, which can be a significant constraint if you can’t pay fees as a lump sum.
You prefer a modern, technology-driven case management experience with CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys all available on staff.

Choose Anthem Tax Services if…

You owe at least $20,000 and can pay fees in a lump sum — Anthem’s disclosed $3,000 average fee and no-retainer structure make it significantly easier to evaluate the total cost before committing.
Community reputation matters to you — Anthem’s strongly recommended SuperMoney score is backed by 93 reviews, making it the most community-validated firm in this comparison series.
You want to avoid paying a retainer before resolution work begins — Anthem charges no retainer fee and provides a fee range during the free consultation.
You want a firm focused on personalized, case-by-case representation — Anthem’s enrolled agents and tax attorneys handle both personal and business tax debt across all 50 states.

About TaxRise

TaxRise is a tax relief company founded in 2016 and based in Irvine, CA, serving individuals and businesses across all 50 states with a two-phase process: free consultation followed by investigation and resolution.

Low Entry Threshold: TaxRise considers cases with as little as $5,000 in tax debt — well below the $20,000 floor Anthem requires.
Flexible Payments: TaxRise offers payment plans for resolution fees — an advantage over Anthem, which requires fees to be paid as a lump sum.
Money-Back Guarantee: TaxRise offers a refund if it cannot enroll you in a qualified IRS relief program.
Fee Opacity: TaxRise does not disclose fees publicly or during the initial consultation — costs are only revealed after you pay for the investigation phase.

WEIGH THE RISKS AND BENEFITS

Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of TaxRise.

About Anthem Tax Services

Anthem Tax Services is a tax relief company founded in 2010 and based in Woodland Hills, CA, serving individuals and businesses across all 50 states and Washington, DC.

Disclosed Fee: Anthem publishes a $3,000 average fee with a starting point of Starting at $425 — giving you a realistic cost range before you engage.
No Retainer: Anthem does not charge a retainer fee, meaning you aren’t asked to pay upfront before the scope and cost of resolution is established.
Strong Community Score: Anthem’s strongly recommended SuperMoney score is backed by 93 community reviews — more verified votes than any other firm in this comparison series.
No Flexible Payments: Anthem requires fees to be paid as a lump sum — a constraint worth considering if your resolution fee approaches the $3,000 average.

WEIGH THE RISKS AND BENEFITS

Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of Anthem Tax Services.

How Do TaxRise and Anthem Tax Services Compare?

Which Has Lower Fees — TaxRise or Anthem Tax Services?

Anthem Tax Services wins on cost transparency. It discloses a $3,000 average fee with a published starting point of Starting at $425, and charges no retainer — you have a concrete cost range before committing to anything.

TaxRise charges a retainer upfront (typically $375–$500 for an investigation phase) and does not disclose resolution fees until after that investigation is complete.

The one cost-related edge TaxRise holds: it offers flexible payment plans for resolution fees, while Anthem requires full payment as a lump sum — a meaningful distinction if your fee approaches the $3,000 average.

How Do Their Qualifications and Process Compare?

Both firms employ enrolled agents and tax attorneys and handle IRS and state tax cases across all 50 states. TaxRise adds CPAs to its staff roster and offers a defined two-phase process clearly communicated from the start.

Anthem focuses on personalized, case-by-case representation through its enrolled agents and tax attorneys, and provides a fee quote during the free consultation without a separate paid investigation phase.

For taxpayers who want to reach a committed cost number before spending anything, Anthem’s approach is faster — but locking in that number requires the ability to pay the full fee upfront.

Which Has the Stronger Reputation?

Anthem Tax Services holds a strongly recommended SuperMoney score across 93 reviews — the highest review volume of any firm in this comparison series and a strong signal of consistent client satisfaction.

TaxRise carries a mostly not recommended SuperMoney score — a split result where clients who achieved resolution rate it highly, while others raise concerns about fee transparency and communication after the initial engagement. On community sentiment and review depth, Anthem has a clear advantage.

Key Differences: TaxRise vs. Anthem Tax Services (Updated 2026)

Here’s what separates TaxRise and Anthem Tax Services on the factors that matter most when choosing a tax relief firm.

Minimum tax debt: TaxRise accepts cases from $5,000; Anthem Tax Services requires $20,000 — if you owe less than $20,000, TaxRise is your only option of the two.
Average fee: Anthem publishes a $3,000 average fee with a starting point of Starting at $425; TaxRise does not disclose its fees until after the paid investigation phase.
Retainer: TaxRise charges a $375–$500 retainer before resolution costs are quoted; Anthem charges no retainer and provides a fee range during the free consultation.
Flexible payments: TaxRise offers payment plans for resolution fees; Anthem Tax Services requires full lump-sum payment — a significant practical difference when the average fee is $3,000.
Years in business: Anthem has operated since 2010 (16 years); TaxRise was founded in 2016 (10 years).
SuperMoney score: Anthem Tax Services is rated strongly recommended across 93 reviews; TaxRise is rated mostly not recommended.

Customer Reviews & Reputation

Anthem Tax Services holds a SuperMoney score of strongly recommended across 93 reviews — the most community-validated firm in this comparison series. Reviewers consistently cite responsive case management, clear fee communication, and successful IRS outcomes as the top reasons for recommending the firm.

TaxRise holds a SuperMoney score of mostly not recommended — a low result that reflects the broader mixed sentiment the company carries across review platforms. Positive reviewers cite attentive case management and successful IRS resolutions; negative reviewers raise concerns about fee transparency and communication after the initial engagement.

Anthem Tax Services Reviews: Community feedback is strongly positive across a large review base — satisfied clients point to upfront fee disclosure, no-retainer process, and personalized case management as the top reasons for recommending the firm.
TaxRise Reviews: Community feedback is divided — clients who achieved resolution tend to rate TaxRise highly, while those frustrated by cost opacity or slow follow-up give it low marks.

Key Takeaways

Minimum debt threshold: TaxRise accepts cases from $5,000 — if you owe under $20,000, it’s your only option of the two.
Fee transparency: Anthem publishes a $3,000 average fee with a starting point of Starting at $425 and charges no retainer; TaxRise does not disclose fees until after a $375–$500 paid investigation.
Flexible payments: TaxRise offers payment plans for resolution fees; Anthem requires full lump-sum payment — a meaningful differentiator if budget flexibility matters to you.
Community reputation: Anthem holds a strongly recommended SuperMoney score across 93 reviews; TaxRise is rated mostly not recommended. On review volume and sentiment, Anthem has a clear advantage.
Staff credentials: TaxRise employs CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys; Anthem employs enrolled agents and tax attorneys — no CPAs on staff.

FAQ

What is the main difference between TaxRise and Anthem Tax Services?

The most significant differences are the minimum debt requirement, fee structure, and payment flexibility. TaxRise accepts cases with as little as $5,000 in tax debt, charges a retainer before disclosing fees, but offers flexible payment plans.

Anthem Tax Services requires $20,000, charges no retainer, and publishes a $3,000 average fee upfront — but requires that fee to be paid as a lump sum, with no installment options.

Which is cheaper — TaxRise or Anthem Tax Services?

Anthem Tax Services reports an average fee of $3,000 with fees starting at Starting at $425 — benchmarks you can plan around before signing.

TaxRise does not publish its fees; reported resolution costs from third-party reviewers range from roughly $2,700 to $7,500 depending on case complexity. Anthem’s fee structure is more predictable upfront, but its lump-sum payment requirement means you need the full amount available at the time of engagement.

Does TaxRise or Anthem Tax Services charge a retainer fee?

TaxRise charges a retainer — typically a $375–$500 investigation fee paid upfront before resolution costs are disclosed. This fee is credited toward your total if you proceed, but is non-refundable once investigation work begins. Anthem Tax Services does not charge a retainer; it provides a fee range during the free consultation so you know your cost benchmark before making any payment commitment.

Does Anthem Tax Services offer flexible payments?

No — Anthem Tax Services requires resolution fees to be paid as a lump sum. This is a meaningful distinction from TaxRise, which does offer flexible payment plans. If your projected fee is near the $3,000 average and you can’t pay it all at once, TaxRise’s payment flexibility may make it the more practical choice despite its fee opacity — assuming you owe at least $5,000.

Which company has better user ratings?

TaxRise holds a mostly not recommended SuperMoney score — a split result where clients who achieved resolution rate it highly, but others raise concerns about fee transparency and communication. On both score and review depth, Anthem has a meaningful advantage.

Explore TaxRise and Anthem Tax Services in Depth

TaxRise Review — See the full breakdown of TaxRise’s fees, process, and user ratings.

Anthem Tax Services Review — Learn how Anthem’s no-retainer, disclosed-fee approach compares to the broader market.

Related Tax Relief Comparisons

TaxRise vs. Optima Tax Relief — The most-reviewed firm on SuperMoney goes head-to-head with TaxRise.
TaxRise vs. Precision Tax Relief — How TaxRise compares to a no-retainer firm with nearly 60 years in business.
TaxRise vs. Larson Tax Relief — Two firms with the same $20,000 minimum compared on fees, guarantees, and reputation.
TaxRise vs. BC Tax — How TaxRise stacks up against another Westminster-based firm with a disclosed fee and no retainer.

Want the full picture? Browse all tax relief companies.

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