The Tax Defenders
The Tax Defenders is a veteran-owned, Chicago-based tax resolution and IRS dispute law firm serving individuals and small businesses nationwide since 2002 via licensed attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Tax Defenders does
The Tax Defenders is a privately held, veteran-owned tax resolution and IRS dispute law firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2002 and operating as TTD Tax Inc. The firm provides professional services to individuals and small businesses facing IRS enforcement actions, including back-tax negotiation, installment agreements, Offers in Compromise, penalty abatement, audit representation, levy and lien release, tax court petitions, and Currently Not Collectible status filings. Service delivery is executed by a team of licensed attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents — including a former IRS Counsel, ex-National Law Firm attorney, ex-State Enforcement attorney, and former Big Four CPA — with case handling distributed nationally via phone, email, and secure document upload, supported by three Chicago-area offices (Chicago Loop, Oak Park, Naperville).
The firm operates a sales-led, direct-engagement go-to-market model with no commissioned salespeople; prospective clients receive a free initial consultation conducted by a licensed professional. Marketing is driven by an educational blog (16+ topical pages), prominent toll-free phone numbers, organic social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube), and a large catalog of quantified success-story case studies, supplemented by referrals and 200+ five-star reviews. The firm holds a BBB A+ rating and affiliations with the American Bar Association, American Institute of CPAs, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The revenue model is professional services fees for case engagement and ongoing representation; no pricing is publicly disclosed and no software product, app, or technology platform is offered. The firm has been self-sustaining since founding with no external funding, M&A activity, or disclosed institutional investors. The co-founders, Joe Hanley (President) and Kelly Hanley (Tax Attorney), maintain direct operational and ownership control.
The Tax Defenders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Tax Defenders
- Legal name
- TTD Tax Inc.
- Website
- https://thetaxdefenders.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Tax Defenders is a veteran-owned, Chicago-based tax resolution and IRS dispute law firm serving individuals and small businesses nationwide since 2002 via licensed attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Tax Defenders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tax Resolution and IRS Representation Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211), Tax Preparation Services (541213)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tax Advisory & Compliance (BPAHABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Tax Law (BPAHAAAG), Dispute Resolution, Appeals & Tax Tribunals (BPAIADAK)
Keywords
Where The Tax Defenders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Tax Defenders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Tax Resolution and Legal Services: Professional services revenue generated from providing tax dispute resolution, IRS negotiation, audit representation, and related legal services to individuals and businesses. Fees are charged for case assessment, engagement, and ongoing representation through resolution.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Tax Defenders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Tax Defenders is a Chicago-based tax resolution law firm that provides professional services to individuals and businesses facing IRS tax problems. Its team of licensed CPAs, attorneys, and Enrolled Agents handles back tax negotiation, IRS collections, tax audits, business tax problems, and unfiled tax returns, working directly with the IRS to secure installment agreements, Offers in Compromise, penalty abatements, and Currently Not Collectible status.
Product overview
The Tax Defenders is a tax resolution law firm providing professional services for resolving IRS tax problems, including back tax negotiation, IRS collections, tax audits, business tax problems, unfiled tax returns, and Revenue Officer cases. They do not offer software products or platforms — their offering consists of legal and tax professional services delivered through licensed attorneys, CPAs, and Enrolled Agents.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Back Tax Negotiation Resolution of multi-year back tax debt owed to the IRS for individuals and businesses, including Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, Currently Not Collectible status, and penalty abatement.
- IRS Collections Defense
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced $150K liability to $1,538 OIC — saved $134,712 total
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use The Tax Defenders
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Tax Defenders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Tax Defenders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Tax Defenders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Polston Tax Resolution: Former IRS attorney-led tax resolution firm providing IRS audit, lien, levy, and criminal tax defense. Directly comparable to The Tax Defenders' ex-IRS counsel positioning and case mix.
- Optima Tax Relief: One of the largest US tax resolution firms offering IRS audit defense, levy release, Offers in Compromise, and installment agreements to individuals and small businesses. Most direct competitor to The Tax Defenders by service mix and target customer.
- Anthem Tax Services: National tax resolution and IRS controversy firm handling back taxes, audits, and Offers in Compromise. Directly competes with The Tax Defenders in the consumer/SMB tax relief segment with overlapping service lines and remote delivery.
- Community Tax LLC: National tax resolution firm offering IRS settlements, penalty abatement, and installment agreements to individuals and businesses, plus debt resolution services. Direct peer with overlapping service catalog and similar SMB/individual focus.
- Tax Hardship Center: Tax resolution and IRS settlement firm focused on back tax negotiation, Offers in Compromise, and penalty abatement for individuals and small businesses. Comparable direct-to-consumer tax relief peer.
- Prager Metis CPAs: Full-service CPA and advisory firm with a dedicated tax controversy and IRS representation practice serving high-net-worth individuals and businesses. Comparable in being CPA-attorney integrated with tax dispute capability.
- Larson Tax Relief: Tax resolution and controversy firm specializing in IRS debt settlement, wage garnishment release, and Offers in Compromise. Comparable service set and customer base with remote, sales-led acquisition model.
- Tax Defense Network: Florida-headquartered tax resolution firm offering IRS audit representation, installment agreements, and levy release nationwide. Comparable mid-sized direct peer in the same service taxonomy.
Broad incumbents
- H&R Block: National tax preparation retailer that also offers Tax Pro Review and audit assistance through its Enrolled Agent/CPA workforce. Broad incumbent whose tax controversy offering overlaps with, but does not specialize in, The Tax Defenders' niche.
- Jackson Hewitt Tax Service: Large consumer tax preparation chain with year-round support and audit assistance through its franchise network. Comparable only as a broad incumbent with adjacent IRS issue resolution, not as a specialist competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Tax Defenders social profiles
Digital presenceThe Tax Defenders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Tax Defenders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Tax Defenders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Tax Defenders 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 The Tax Defenders
What does The Tax Defenders do?
The Tax Defenders is a Chicago-based tax resolution law firm that provides professional services to individuals and businesses facing IRS tax problems. Its team of licensed CPAs, attorneys, and Enrolled Agents handles back tax negotiation, IRS collections, tax audits, business tax problems, and unfiled tax returns, working directly with the IRS to secure installment agreements, Offers in Compromise, penalty abatements, and Currently Not Collectible status.
Is The Tax Defenders a public or private company?
The Tax Defenders is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Tax Defenders founded?
The Tax Defenders was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Tax Defenders based?
The Tax Defenders is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Tax Defenders make money?
One revenue line is on record: tax Resolution and Legal Services.
Who are The Tax Defenders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Polston Tax Resolution, Optima Tax Relief, Anthem Tax Services, Community Tax LLC, Tax Hardship Center, Prager Metis CPAs, Larson Tax Relief and Tax Defense Network. Broad incumbents are H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.
Does The Tax Defenders have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Tax Defenders.
What industry is The Tax Defenders in?
The Tax Defenders's product category is Tax Resolution and IRS Representation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHABAB, Tax Advisory & Compliance, with a secondary code of BPAHAAAG, Tax Law. Its NAICS code is 541211 and its SIC code is 8111.