Protection Plus
Protection Plus (Tax Protection Plus, LLC) is a Winston-Salem, NC-based IRS and state tax audit defense service that connects over 10 million members with EA/CPA-credentialed resolution specialists, distributed primarily as an embedded add-on within 20+ major tax software platforms and through tax professional resellers at $10 per e-filed return.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersWinston Salem, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Protection Plus does
Tax Protection Plus, LLC (doing business as Protection Plus) is a Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based provider of IRS and state tax audit defense services founded in 2001. The company sells a tax audit defense membership product that connects members with credentialed resolution specialists holding Enrolled Agent (EA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designations, who are legally authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS. The service covers IRS notice response, audit resolution, and tax inquiry support for individual taxpayers, and the company claims over 10 million members.
The core product is delivered through a web-based member portal that handles case management, document upload, and payment processing, with dedicated case teams assigned to each member. Protection Plus generates revenue primarily through a $10 per-return transaction fee charged to tax professionals for each e-filed return that includes the Protection Plus add-on; the fee is debited periodically from the tax professional's ACH or credit card account. A separate subscription/membership product provides up to $1 million in audit defense coverage for nonprofit Form 990 filers through a partnership with Tax990.
The company's go-to-market is built almost entirely on embedded channel partnerships: Protection Plus is offered as an optional add-on inside 20+ major tax software platforms including TurboTax (Intuit), H&R Block, TaxSlayer, 1040.com, Cash App Taxes, FreeTaxUSA, TaxAct, TaxHawk, Wolters Kluwer CCH, Drake Software, and Thomson Reuters UltraTax. Distribution is supplemented by a tax professional reseller network that enrolls clients through a dedicated professional portal. The company is privately held, operates as a subsidiary of Provident Financial Services Inc., and received a growth investment from Quad-C Management in April 2025.
Protection Plus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Protection Plus
- Legal name
- Tax Protection Plus, LLC
- Website
- https://new.taxprotectionplus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Protection Plus (Tax Protection Plus, LLC) is a Winston-Salem, NC-based IRS and state tax audit defense service that connects over 10 million members with EA/CPA-credentialed resolution specialists, distributed primarily as an embedded add-on within 20+ major tax software platforms and through tax professional resellers at $10 per e-filed return.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Protection Plus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tax Audit Defense Services
- NAICS
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)
- SIC
- Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tax Advisory & Compliance (BPAHABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Eligibility, Coverage Verification & Policy Administration Support (BPAAAFAC)
Keywords
Where Protection Plus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Winston Salem
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Protection Plus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Per-Return Transaction Fee: Protection Plus charges $10.00 per tax return e-filed with Protection Plus protection attached. The fee is debited from the tax professional's account or credit card periodically after e-filing.
- IRS Audit Defense Membership: Annual or per-filing membership providing IRS audit defense coverage up to $1 million for nonprofit filers through Tax990 partnership
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Per-return protection at $10.00 per e-filed return |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Protection Plus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Protection Plus sells tax audit defense memberships that provide IRS and state tax notice resolution, with representation by credentialed Enrolled Agents (EAs) and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), dedicated case teams, and coverage for individual, business, and nonprofit tax filings. The core service is bundled with tax professional filings at $10.00 per e-filed return, while nonprofit organizations receive up to $1 million in audit defense coverage through a Tax990 partnership.
Product overview
Tax Protection Plus (doing business as Protection Plus) is a tax audit defense and resolution services company serving both individual taxpayers and tax professionals. The core offering is the Protection Plus membership, which connects members with credentialed EA/CPA resolution specialists to handle IRS and state tax notices. The company also offers a nonprofit-specific Form 990 audit defense add-on (via the Tax990 partnership), a business insurance product for tax and accounting professionals, and a free WISP tool. The product portfolio is organized as a core membership platform with multiple add-on modules targeting distinct segments (individual filers, tax professionals, nonprofit organizations).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Protection Plus Tax Audit Defense Membership Tax audit defense membership that provides IRS and state tax notice resolution, with Enrolled Agent and CPA representation, dedicated case teams, and coverage for various tax filing types including individual and business returns. Designed for individual taxpayers seeking protection against IRS audits, notices, and inquiries, and distributed through tax professionals and partnered tax software platforms.
- Protection Plus for Nonprofit Filers (Form 990 Audit Defense) IRS audit defense coverage of up to $1 million for nonprofit organizations filing Form 990 and related schedules, offered through a partnership with the Tax990 platform. Includes support for IRS inquiries, audits, and compliance risks related to nonprofit filings.
- Business Insurance for Tax Professionals Business insurance designed specifically for tax and accounting professionals, available via quote through a third-party insurance platform (Next Insurance), covering cybersecurity and professional liability risks for practices that bundle Protection Plus services.
- WISP (Written Information Security Plan) Tool Free online guided tool to create a compliant Written Information Security Plan (WISP), helping tax professionals satisfy state and insurer requirements for data security documentation relevant to IRS Publication 4557 and Safeguards Rule compliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10 million members served
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Protection Plus
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Protection Plus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Protection Plus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tax990coreTax990 announced a partnership with Protection Plus to offer IRS audit defense coverage up to $1 million for nonprofit filers. The service provides support for IRS inquiries, audits, and compliance risks related to various Form 990 filings. This partnership extends Protection Plus's reach into the nonprofit tax preparation segment.
- Intuit (TurboTax)coreIntuit's TurboTax platform integrates Protection Plus as an optional audit defense add-on for filers using TurboTax software. This is one of the primary distribution channels for individual tax filers.
- H&R BlockcoreH&R Block (LT Tax Pro) integrates Protection Plus protection options within their tax preparation software and retail office offerings.
- TaxSlayercoreTaxSlayer online tax software offers Protection Plus audit defense coverage as an add-on service for their tax filing customers.
- 1040.comcore1040.com offers Protection Plus audit defense protection integrated into their online tax preparation platform.
- Cash App TaxescoreCash App Taxes (Square's free tax filing service) offers Protection Plus protection as an add-on for their customers.
- FreeTaxUSAcoreFreeTaxUSA integrates Protection Plus audit defense options within their online tax filing platform.
- TaxActcoreTaxAct professional and consumer tax software platforms offer Protection Plus protection services.
- TaxHawkcoreTaxHawk online tax software offers Protection Plus audit defense coverage integrated into their filing platform.
- TaxWarecoreTaxWare tax software integrates Protection Plus audit defense services for their professional tax preparer customers.
- Wolters KluwercoreWolters Kluwer CCH Tax and Accounting software integrates Protection Plus protection options.
- Drake SoftwarecoreDrake Software tax preparation software offers Protection Plus integrated protection services.
- Thomson Reuters (UltraTax)coreThomson Reuters UltraTax professional tax software integrates Protection Plus audit defense options.
- Next InsuranceminorNext Insurance provides business insurance quotes for tax and accounting professionals through an integration on the Protection Plus website. This covers cyber security, E&O, and general business insurance needs.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Protection Plus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Intuit (TurboTax): Intuit's TurboTax is the largest U.S. tax software platform and integrates Protection Plus as an add-on. TurboTax's Maximum Refund Guarantee and audit support offerings overlap with Protection Plus's value proposition, and Intuit has the scale to in-source audit defense.
- H&R Block: H&R Block offers its own 'Peace of Mind' audit support as part of paid DIY and assisted tax preparation products, competing with Protection Plus on the same tax software platform while also serving as a major distribution partner — a dual competitor/distributor dynamic.
- Jackson Hewitt: Jackson Hewitt is a national tax preparation retailer that offers audit assistance and related tax protection products through its own service packages, competing with Protection Plus on audit defense value to filers.
- Wolters Kluwer (CCH): Wolters Kluwer's CCH tax and accounting software integrates Protection Plus today. As a major professional tax software vendor, Wolters Kluwer has the footprint and customer base to expand into competing audit defense offerings.
Direct peers
- Optima Tax Relief: Optima Tax Relief provides IRS and state tax resolution, audit defense, and back-tax settlement services to individuals and businesses. It competes directly with Protection Plus in tax notice/audit representation.
- TaxAudit.com (Tax Resources Inc.): TaxAudit.com is a direct competitor offering IRS and state audit defense, tax notice resolution, and representation services to individual taxpayers and small businesses through subscription memberships — directly overlapping with Protection Plus's core service.
- Tax Samaritan: Tax Samaritan is a tax resolution and IRS audit defense firm offering notice response and representation services to individuals and small businesses — a direct competitor operating in the same niche with comparable service delivery.
- Community Tax: Community Tax offers IRS tax relief, audit representation, and tax resolution services to individuals and small businesses, overlapping with Protection Plus's audit defense and notice response offerings.
Emerging players
- Anthem Tax Services: Anthem Tax Services provides IRS tax resolution, audit defense, and tax debt services, positioning itself as an emerging niche player in the same tax notice and audit representation category as Protection Plus.
Regional players
- Drake Software: Drake Software is a professional tax preparation platform that currently integrates Protection Plus as a third-party audit defense offering; as a partner-channel competitor, it could choose to bundle its own native audit support in the future.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Protection Plus social profiles
Digital presenceProtection Plus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Protection Plus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Protection Plus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Protection Plus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Protection Plus
What does Protection Plus do?
Protection Plus sells tax audit defense memberships that provide IRS and state tax notice resolution, with representation by credentialed Enrolled Agents (EAs) and Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), dedicated case teams, and coverage for individual, business, and nonprofit tax filings. The core service is bundled with tax professional filings at $10.00 per e-filed return, while nonprofit organizations receive up to $1 million in audit defense coverage through a Tax990 partnership.
Is Protection Plus a public or private company?
Protection Plus is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Protection Plus founded?
Protection Plus was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Protection Plus based?
Protection Plus is headquartered in Winston Salem, United States, in the North America region.
How does Protection Plus make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Per-Return Transaction Fee is the primary driver. The others are IRS Audit Defense Membership.
Who are Protection Plus's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Intuit (TurboTax), H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt and Wolters Kluwer (CCH). Direct peers are Optima Tax Relief, TaxAudit.com (Tax Resources Inc.), Tax Samaritan and Community Tax. Anthem Tax Services is listed as an emerging player. Drake Software is listed as a regional player.
Does Protection Plus have an API?
No public API is recorded for Protection Plus.
What industry is Protection Plus in?
Protection Plus's product category is Tax Audit Defense Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHABAB, Tax Advisory & Compliance, with a secondary code of BPAAAFAC, Eligibility, Coverage Verification & Policy Administration Support. Its NAICS code is 5242 and its SIC code is 6331.