Veteran Owned. Since 2002. Tax Problems Focused

Veteran Owned. Since 2002.

Experienced Tax Attorneys and CPAS

Resolve IRS and State Tax Issues Quickly

Call us today to speak with a licensed tax professional.

Licensed CPAs, Attorneys and Enrolled Agents. BBB A+ Rated.

Veteran Owned Since 2002. Over 19,000 cases handled.

We handle back taxes, audits and appeals. Personal and business.

Read Our Latest Success Stories

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Looking for experienced, top rated help to fix a tax problem? You’re in the right place.

Call us today to speak with a licensed tax professional.

Licensed CPAs, Attorneys and Enrolled Agents. BBB A+ Rated.

Veteran Owned Since 2002. Over 19,000 cases handled.

We handle back taxes, audits and appeals. Personal and business.

Click Here To Call Us Today

It’s hard to find a small firm with deep IRS experience, but here we are.

An experienced tax negotiation and dispute team can be the difference between meeting your goals and being stuck in a tax fight.

Our team includes former IRS counsel, big four CPA, and lawyers who worked in state-level tax enforcement and top 3 AmLaw firms. So we’re very experienced.

Our founder is a Marine Corps veteran who actually had his own IRS issue due to a filing error after leaving the military.

That means you can be confident you’ll get straight-talk from the first call.

Call Us Today (800) 341-0411

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The Tax Defenders

Meet our experienced team and tax attorneys.

With over 100 years of combined tax experience our team can take care of your issue with compassion and expertise. We care about the outcome. Your case will be led directly by our licensed tax attorneys, CPAs and Enrolled Agents. No outsourcing ever.

Joe Hanley

President

Kelly Hanley

Tax Attorney

Rick Reiter

Tax Attorney

Samantha Wisniewski

Tax Attorney

Barry Nelson

Tax Accountant & CPA

We Get Great Results

They have been simply outstanding in getting our situation resolved.
Their customer service and professionalism are truly second to non. I highly recommend The Tax Defenders (TTD Tax)
Don H
BBB Review.

January 2026 Success Stories

We reversed a $103,836 bank levy for a small business owner with multiple retail locations.
The IRS demanded $5,500 per month on an accountants $150,302 liability. We got him into Currently Not Collectible.
We negotiated with a Revenue Officer to establish an agreement, protecting a client’s retirement savings fully.
A truck driver from Texas was granted an Offer in Compromise in the amount of $1,538. This was a savings of $134,712.
An Illinois attorney’s $1.8 million liability was resolved, resulting him keeping his practice, making monthly affordable payments.

We get great results

We are veteran owned, celebrating our 24th year in the business.

Our owner Joe, is a veteran of five years of service in the United States Marine Corps including combat in Desert Shield/Desert Storm. We get our no-hype, straight-talk as well as our sense of duty from the Marines.

Read more about the firm here

We’ve been in
the trenches.

19,000+

Cases handled

$110M+

Saved for clients

A+

Rated by the BBB

Meet our clients

Testimonials from our clients that confirm our expertise and speak for themselves

Molly B

Chicago, Illinois

They helped me resolve a complicated tax matter in less than a week for a fraction of what i paid at other firms. I could tell they care about their clients. I cannot give enough praise to this firm.

Eliza Z

Naperville, Illinois

I can’t say enough great things about The Tax Defenders. We were relieved with the support and the empathy for our situation. I can honestly say they go above and beyond for you and your family.

Angel S

Chicago, Illinois

I would recommend TTD 1000%. What I went through was scary, and I can now sleep well at night. I only wish I called them sooner. Professional, courteous, and they get the job done. Thank you!

Kathy S

Aurora, Illinois

Provides both comfort and professional service in handling sensitive IRS matters. Joe Hanley and his team go above and beyond, offering honest opinions something many attorneys wouldn’t do for free.

Dina M

Skokie, Illinois

These people REALLY care! He took time without rushing me through it, going over all possible solutions and even told me not to hire him because I didn’t need him at this point but to reach back out if i had any issues.

Ray M

Chicago, Illinois

I can’t describe how impressed I am with Joe Hanley. His professional, yet friendly approach immediately put me at ease and made the situation seem a lot less scary. Thank you Joe for all your help!

Ignacio S

Chicago, Illinois

Great experienced working with TTD Chicago! Communication and coordination were always very timely. Professionalism is unwavering. Objectives established and achieved. They saved me over $35,000!

Pat S

Oak Park, Illinois

Beyond honest with me after reviewing my situation. Gave me solid advice and did not pressure me to pay anymore fees to the firm. Honesty is hard to find these days. I highly recommend this group.

Amy D

Chicago, Illinois

Amazing work and care for their clients! They did a great job of getting the work done and the integrity they showed in their work was impeccable. Highly recommend.

More Testimonials

The Tax Defenders Are Here To Help

We help individuals and businesses fix their IRS problems, quickly resolving any immediate issues and put them on a path to a cleaner tax future. From representing clients at audit meetings to negotiating a payment plan, our attorneys always put our clients’ needs first.

Clean Up Old Tax Problems

We help individuals and businesses overcome lingering tax issues with tailored strategies, direct, personalized support and a comprehensive plan to get your taxes fixed.

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Experienced IRS Representation

Our team negotiates with the IRS on tough cases including audits, enforcement actions, IRS revenue officers and settlement agreements. Get professional support on your tax problem.

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Fixing Small Business Tax Issues

Get strategic, experienced solutions to small business tax issues. Our attorneys tackle challenging cases involving payroll tax debts, IRS audits, and enforcement actions, protecting you and your business.

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Over 19,000 Cases Handled Across the US

Founded in Chicago, We Practice Nationwide

These are the locations of different clients we have represented over our 24 years. We can connect via the phone, zoom, google meet, whatever works.

If you are looking to book in-person in Chicago click here.

We Fix IRS Tax Problems

We use whichever techniques will work best for your tax situation

There is no single solution that works for every case. The right strategy varies depending on filing status, balances owed, enforcement activity and timing. Some problems we regularly deal with are outlined:

Get In Touch Today!

If you owe the IRS, our tax attorneys go beyond basic repayment plans. We assess whether the balance is accurate, explore tax debt solutions, and protect you from penalties or enforcement — all while helping you move toward a long-term resolution.

From Offers in Compromise to structured Installment Agreements, our tax attorneys help you resolve what you owe in a way that fits your finances. We handle the paperwork, negotiation, and strategy — so you get the best result the IRS will allow. Discover more here.

When you receive a levy, lien, or garnishment notice, timing is critical. Our tax attorneys act fast to stop enforcement and protect your income, assets, and business — while working toward a manageable solution.

Revenue Officers bring serious collection pressure. Our tax attorneys take over the communication, protect your rights, and help resolve your case before the IRS takes action against your wages, bank accounts, or property.

If your business owes payroll taxes, has 941 issues, or is under audit, our tax attorneys step in to defend both your company and your personal liability. We help you manage IRS pressure, fix compliance gaps, and protect your operations.

Facing an audit? You don’t have to navigate it alone. Our tax attorneys represent you directly with the IRS, manage requests for documents, and defend your position. If the audit results are unfair, we push back to correct them.

From years of unfiled returns to international tax issues and personal liability concerns, our tax attorneys bring clarity to complicated situations. We help you face what’s been avoided — and get back on solid ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get clear, professional answers to the most common questions we hear from individuals and businesses facing serious tax issues. Got a specific question? Contact us in our form and we will do our best to answer.

You’ll speak directly with an attorney or a senior tax professional—not a call center and not a salesperson. We’ll take the time to understand your situation, ask the right questions, and provide honest guidance on what to do next.
We understand that reaching out can feel like a big step. Our job is to make that step easier by offering clarity, discretion, and real answers. There’s no charge for the initial call—and no pressure to commit unless we’re the right fit for your case.

If your issue involves the IRS or state taxing authorities—whether it’s back taxes, audits, enforcement actions, or unfiled returns—we can likely help. We’ve spent decades resolving complex cases for clients in Chicago and nationwide.
We evaluate each case on its merits. If your situation falls outside our scope, we’ll let you know up front. But in most cases, if you’re facing a tax problem serious enough to be reading this, we’ve helped clients in your exact position.

Your matter will be managed by a licensed tax attorney with significant experience in IRS and state tax controversy. We do not outsource any tax work, all representation is conducted in-house to ensure consistency, confidentiality, and quality of service.
From the outset, you will know exactly who is responsible for your case. You’ll have direct access to your tax team and receive clear, timely communication at every stage. Our approach is rooted in professional accountability and a commitment to achieving effective, client-focused outcomes.

Yes. Tax attorneys are federally authorized to represent clients before the IRS in all matters, including audits, collections, appeals, and proceedings before the United States Tax Court. We manage all filings and communications with the IRS and are trained to structure and negotiate resolutions that comply with federal tax law while protecting our clients’ interests.
Our role goes beyond form preparation. We apply proven tax strategy to each case, advocating for our clients at every stage of the process. Where necessary, we litigate to achieve favorable outcomes and ensure our clients’ rights are fully protected under the law.

At our firm, you don’t have to guess who you need—we have tax attorneys, enrolled agents and CPAs on staff. During your initial consultation, we’ll assess your situation and assign the right professionals to resolve your case efficiently and correctly. Whether your case requires a tax resolution strategy, forensic accounting, or both, we build a solution that’s tailored to your specific issue.

We are located in Chicago with offices in the loop and Oak park with available appointments in other parts of Chicagoland. We also serve clients with IRS problems across the United States. You’ll have direct access to the team helping resolve your tax issues. We are a small firm with an experienced team which allows us to be flexible in our thinking to resolve different problems.