American Society of Tax Problem Solvers

What American Society of Tax Problem Solvers does

The American Society of Tax Problem Solvers (ASTPS) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 2003 by Larry Lawler and John Witkowski, headquartered in Williamsville, NY, with operations also referenced in New York City. The organization trains licensed tax professionals — primarily CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys — to represent clients before the IRS in matters including unfiled returns, audits, tax debt, liens, levies, garnishments, offers in compromise, installment agreements, penalty abatement, and innocent spouse relief. Its core technology is a live, cohort-based tax resolution training curriculum delivered via Zoom and in-person events, supported by a Skool.com online community; ASTPS does not develop software and instead relies on third-party platforms for community, billing (Infusionsoft/ChargeOver/RegFox), events (Zoom), and member tools (TaxDome, IRS Solutions).

ASTPS generates revenue through a layered product portfolio. Annual Professional Membership at $412/year provides recurring subscription revenue and unlocks 40+ training courses, monthly CE webinars, case consultations, and 15% discounts on other offerings. The flagship Tax Resolution Accelerator is a 35-hour cohort training priced at $1,497 (non-member) or $1,272.45 (member), offered three times per year. The Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) certification is a 20-hour on-demand program at $997, first issued in 2008. The Practice Builders program is a $197/month coaching subscription with a 12-month commitment. Annual conferences (Super Conference at $997/$847.45, Summer Conference at $297/$252.45, Spring Conference) and auxiliary products such as the Presentation Marketing Workshop ($1,997), Intro to Tax Resolution ($497), and Ultimate IRS Communicator letter templates ($90) complete the portfolio.

Name

American Society of Tax Problem Solvers

Legal name

American Society of Tax Problem Solvers

Website

https://astps.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASTPS is a nonprofit professional association founded in 2003 that trains licensed tax professionals (CPAs, Enrolled Agents, attorneys) to represent clients before the IRS through live training cohorts, certification, conferences, and ongoing coaching.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Resolution Professional Education and Certification

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Tax resolution training
• IRS representation education
• Professional certification programs
• Continuing professional education
• Tax controversy coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Dues: Annual membership at $412/year provides recurring revenue. Members receive monthly CE webinars, access to training library, case consultations, community access, marketing support, and discounts on conferences and programs.
2. Accelerator Training Program: Cohort-based, 35-hour live tax resolution training program delivered in-person or virtually. Priced at $1,497 (non-member) and $1,272.45 (member/early-bird). Revenue is recognized per cohort enrollment (3 cohorts per year).
3. CTRS Certification Program: 20-hour on-demand certification program after Accelerator completion. Priced at $997. Generates one-time revenue per professional certifier.
4. Conference Revenue (Spring, Summer, Super Conference): Annual conferences (Spring Virtual, Summer Virtual, Super Conference in-person/virtual) generate ticket revenue. Super Conference: $997 non-member / $847.45 member. Summer Conference: $297 non-member / $252.45 member.
5. Practice Builders Coaching Program: Monthly coaching and mastermind program at $197/month per member. Includes advanced technical training, marketing sessions, community access, and one-on-one case consultations. Requires 12-month initial commitment.
6. Intro to Tax Resolution (Rescue Squad): 8-hour on-demand introductory course priced at $497. Provides foundational tax resolution training for tax professionals not yet ready for the full Accelerator.
7. Presentation Marketing Workshop: Two-day in-person/virtual workshop priced at $1,997 (or $1,497 with early registration). Open to professional members only.
8. Ultimate IRS Communicator: Collection of 150+ IRS response letter templates sold for $90 as a tools product for tax resolution practitioners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ASTPS is a nonprofit professional membership association that trains licensed tax professionals (CPAs, Enrolled Agents, attorneys) to represent clients before the IRS. It sells a tiered portfolio of live cohort training programs, an on-demand CTRS certification, recurring practice-building coaching, annual conferences, and a subscription-based professional membership with continuing education (CE/CPE) credit.

Product overview

ASTPS is a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive ecosystem of tax resolution training and certification programs. The core offerings include the Tax Resolution Accelerator (a 35-hour intensive live training program), the Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) certification (a 20-hour self-paced program), and Professional Membership (providing access to 40+ courses, monthly webinars, and coaching). These are complemented by advanced conferences (Super Conference, Summer Conference, Spring Conference), the Practice Builders coaching program, the Presentation Marketing Workshop, the Intro to Tax Resolution on-demand course, and the Ultimate IRS Communicator template library. The portfolio progresses from foundational training (Accelerator) through certification (CTRS) to ongoing professional development and business growth support (Membership, Practice Builders, conferences).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Tax Resolution Accelerator A 35-hour, hands-on, cohort-based live training program delivered over 4 days that teaches tax professionals the fundamentals of IRS representation, including case studies, templates, and networking. Includes 27 CE credits and 3-month recording access.
• Certified Tax Resolution Specialist (CTRS) Certification A rigorous 20-hour on-demand certification program consisting of 15 individual courses covering advanced tax resolution topics including offers in compromise, installment agreements, liens, levies, audits, and penalty abatement.
• Professional Membership Annual subscription at $412/year providing access to 40+ course training library, 12 monthly CE webinars, 6 phone case consultations, monthly group coaching, community access, member credentials, and 15% discounts on conferences.
• Practice Builders High-leverage monthly coaching program at $197/month for tax resolution practitioners featuring advanced technical training, marketing sessions, case consultations, and access to 100+ hours of recorded training content.
• Presentation Marketing Workshop Two-day live workshop ($1,997 standard/$1,497 early registration) teaching tax professionals how to build and deliver presentations to generate clients, referrals, and speaking invitations.
• Intro to Tax Resolution (Rescue Squad) On-demand 8-hour foundational training course at $497 covering 12 modules on IRS personnel, collection issues, offers in compromise, and audit representation for practitioners exploring tax resolution.
• Ultimate IRS Communicator Collection of 150+ pre-written IRS response letter templates covering non-filer correspondence, audit responses, collection appeals, penalty abatement requests, and client engagement letters, sold for $90.
• Taxpayer Representation Super Conference Annual flagship three-day advanced conference ($997 non-member/$847.45 member) featuring 16 sessions, 11 expert speakers, 18 hours of CE credits, and networking events.
• Summer Conference Virtual one-day advanced conference ($297 non-member/$252.45 member) featuring five expert-led sessions on administrative files, unusual assessments, taxpayer representation, and refund requests.
• Spring Conference Virtual one-day advanced conference offering five expert-led sessions on advanced IRS representation topics for tax resolution practitioners.
• Free Tax Resolution Webinars Monthly free one-hour CE/CPE webinars on tax resolution topics, approved by IRS and NASBA, providing ongoing education for tax professionals as the top-of-funnel acquisition channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average tax resolution case fees of $3,500-$5,000 per case, enabling practitioners to work with fewer clients while generating more revenue than tax preparation alone.
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• ADPflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerADP is the exclusively endorsed payroll and HR partner of ASTPS. As a leading provider of small business payroll and tax compliance solutions, ADP offers multiple pathways for collaboration with ASTPS members and their accountant teams. ADP provides promotional exposure to the ASTPS member base.
• TaxDomecoreTechnology or IntegrationTaxDome provides an intuitive, modern practice management solution for tax resolution professionals. Offers a 14-day free trial to ASTPS members. Integrates with workflows for managing IRS representation cases, client communication, and document handling.
• IRS SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationIRS Solutions is a comprehensive tax resolution and IRS monitoring platform. Helps practitioners manage IRS collection cases, monitor and alert on transcript changes, prepare and submit Offers in Compromise (OICs) and Installment Agreements, and respond to notices. Promoted as a success partner to ASTPS members.
• Pitbull TaxcoreTechnology or IntegrationPitbull Tax debuted the first version of its program at an ASTPS Boot Camp and has been part of the ecosystem since the beginning of the tax resolution industry. Currently used by hundreds of ASTPS members for case management and resolution workflows.
• Surgent (Enrolled Agent Review)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSurgent is the #1 EA review course provider. Recommended by ASTPS for tax professionals beginning their Enrolled Agent journey. Offers a special deal available through the ASTPS partnership.
• TaxCureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaxCure is an online marketplace connecting tax resolution professionals with high-intent taxpayers seeking tax relief. Functions as a directory and search engine. Free member profiles available; paid upgrades for greater exposure. Thousands of tax professionals use TaxCure to attract clients.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Becker Professional Education: Becker is a leading provider of CPA exam prep and CPE for accounting and finance professionals. Comparable to ASTPS in delivering accredited, professional continuing education to CPA-track practitioners, though its scale and subject breadth (CPA prep, CMA, CFA, CPE across topics) make it a broad incumbent rather than a tax-resolution specialist.
• AICPA (American Institute of CPAs): AICPA is the national professional association for CPAs, offering massive CPE catalogs, conferences, and credentials. Overlaps with ASTPS on tax CPE and CPA-targeted continuing education but at vastly broader scope — it is a broad incumbent serving the entire accounting profession, not a tax resolution specialist.
• Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting (CCH): CCH offers tax practice software, research platforms, and CPE for tax professionals via CCH CPELink. Comparable professional-development business model and overlapping audience with ASTPS, but embedded in a larger tax-software/data infrastructure giant rather than a focused IRS-representation training community.
• Intuit ProConnect / Tax Pro Center: Intuit ProConnect offers tax software plus professional education and practice resources for tax preparers. Comparable as a training and practice-support provider for tax professionals with vastly greater scale, embedded in Intuit's broader tax-software ecosystem.
• Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting (Checkpoint): Thomson Reuters provides tax research, compliance software, and CPE through Checkpoint and related platforms. Overlaps with ASTPS in serving tax practitioners with education and research tools at the upper end of the market, but as part of a broad incumbent tax-tech suite rather than a niche training specialist.

Direct peers

• National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP): NATP is the largest US membership association serving tax preparers and Enrolled Agents with CPE, certifications, and a member community. Directly comparable to ASTPS as a CPE-providing, tax-focused membership organization with similar target buyer (CPAs, EAs) and overlapping product set (conferences, CE, certifications).
• National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA): NAEA is the national professional association for Enrolled Agents — the same professional credential ASTPS helps members earn and use. Directly comparable as an EA-focused membership body offering CPE, advocacy, and practice support, though broader in scope than IRS representation.

Regional players

• CalCPA (California Society of CPAs): CalCPA is a state CPA society providing CPE, conferences, and advocacy to California CPAs. Comparable membership-plus-CPE model with conferences and certifications, but focused geographically on California rather than national tax-resolution training.

Emerging players

• Roger CPA Review (UWorld): Roger CPA Review delivers adaptive CPA exam prep and CPE for CPAs. Comparable as a professional education provider targeting the same CPA/EA audience and competing for high-value training dollars, though positioned on exam preparation rather than specialty practice building like ASTPS.
• Surgent (EA Review and CPE): Surgent provides CPA and Enrolled Agent exam review along with CPE and professional development. Already an ASTPS partner ("Surgent Enrolled Agent Review" recommended via ASTPS) and directly comparable as a CE-cleared, CPA/EA-focused training provider, though ASTPS's specialization in tax resolution sets it apart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ASTPS1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Society of Tax Problem Solvers