Check Us Yourself
Is Clarity Tax Relief Legit? Here's How to Verify Us Yourself
Fair question. The tax relief industry has earned your skepticism, and you shouldn't take any company's word for it — including ours. So this page doesn't ask you to trust us. It gives you the facts about Clarity Tax Relief and shows you exactly how to check each one with an independent source.
The short answer: yes. Clarity Tax Relief is a real firm founded in 2018, BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, operating from a physical office in Santa Ana, California, with an IRS Enrolled Agent representing clients — and every one of those claims is independently verifiable below.
Facts on this page last verified: July 2026.
The Facts You Can Check
Start with the basics. A legitimate business has a real founding date, a real address, real people, and a phone that gets answered. Here are ours:
| Fact | How to verify it |
|---|---|
| Founded December 10, 2018 by Melissa Ly | Listed on our BBB profile and our About Us page |
| Office: 1551 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705 | Look it up on Google Maps — it's a real building, not a mailbox |
| Phone: (888) 825-7779 | Call it. A person answers during business hours |
| Hours: Mon–Fri, 7am–4pm Pacific | Call during those hours and see for yourself |
BBB Accredited With an A+ Rating
Clarity Tax Relief is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and holds an A+ rating. Don't take that from us — the BBB maintains its own public profile on our company, including our rating, accreditation status, and any complaint history.
View Clarity Tax Relief's profile on BBB.org and check it directly. The BBB is independent of us; we cannot edit what it says. While you're there, compare our profile against any other tax relief company you're considering — the rating, the complaint pattern, and how (or whether) the company responds all tell you a lot.
A Real Enrolled Agent You Can Verify With the IRS
Tax relief work is only as good as the person authorized to stand between you and the IRS. At Clarity, client representation is handled by Angeline Balsitis, EA — an Enrolled Agent, the highest credential the IRS awards, authorized to represent taxpayers in all 50 states. Our founder, Melissa Ly, serves as Chief Tax Officer and leads the firm's tax strategy.
You can verify any Enrolled Agent's status directly with the IRS — not with us:
- Follow the IRS's own instructions on its Verify the Status of an Enrolled Agent page.
- Email the IRS Enrolled Practitioner Program at epp@irs.gov with the agent's first and last name. The IRS will confirm whether that person holds an active EA credential.
Any firm that hesitates when you ask "who exactly will represent me, and how do I verify their credential?" has told you what you need to know.
We Publish Our Fees
Clarity is one of the only tax resolution firms in the nation that advertises its prices. Our tax investigation is a published flat fee — $495 for personal cases, $945 for business cases — and every resolution after that is quoted as a flat fee in writing before you pay anything. The full breakdown is on our pricing page, visible to anyone, no phone call required.
That matters for one simple reason: hidden pricing is the norm in this industry, and scam operations never publish their fees. A number on a public page is a commitment you can hold us to. A number that only appears after a high-pressure sales call is not.
What We Will Never Promise
Here's a reliable test of any tax relief company: listen to what it promises. No honest firm can promise to settle your tax debt for "pennies on the dollar," because settlement eligibility depends entirely on your income, assets, and expenses — facts no one knows until they've reviewed your case. So Clarity will never promise:
- A guaranteed settlement, reduction, or outcome of any kind
- That you qualify for a program before we've reviewed your finances
- A specific dollar amount the IRS will accept
What we will do is review your situation honestly and tell you what's realistic — including when the honest answer is that we can't help. We've published guides on how to spot tax relief scams and how to tell if a tax relief company is legit. Read them, then hold Clarity to that exact same standard. We wrote the red-flag list; we should pass it.
Other Trust Signals Worth Checking
- IRS-Approved Continuing Education provider. The IRS approves organizations that provide continuing education to tax professionals; Clarity is one of them.
- NAEA member. We are a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the professional society for EAs.
- Authorized in all 50 states. Enrolled Agents are federally authorized, so our representation isn't limited to California — we represent taxpayers before the IRS nationwide.
- 25 original IRS data studies. We publish original research built on IRS data, with the methodology stated on each study, at our IRS Data & Studies library. Scam operations don't invest years in public research.
- Client reviews. Read what clients say on our reviews page, then cross-check the BBB reviews on the BBB's own site, where we can't edit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clarity Tax Relief a legitimate company?
Yes. Clarity Tax Relief is a real tax resolution firm founded on December 10, 2018 by Melissa Ly. We work from a physical office at 1551 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705, we are BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, and we are authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS in all 50 states.
Is Clarity Tax Relief a scam?
No. Scam operations hide their prices, their people, and their addresses. Clarity publishes its fees, names its founder and the Enrolled Agent who represents clients, and lists a real office you can look up on a map. You can also verify our BBB accreditation and A+ rating directly on the BBB's own website.
How can I verify Clarity Tax Relief's credentials?
Three ways, none of which rely on our word. Check our profile on the BBB's website, where our accreditation and A+ rating are listed. Verify our Enrolled Agent's status with the IRS by emailing epp@irs.gov. Or call our office at (888) 825-7779, Monday through Friday, 7am to 4pm Pacific, and ask us anything.
How much does Clarity Tax Relief charge?
Our tax investigation is a published flat fee: $495 for personal cases and $945 for business cases. Any resolution work after that is quoted as a flat fee in writing before you pay anything. The first consultation is always free, with no obligation.
Does Clarity Tax Relief guarantee results?
No, and no legitimate tax relief firm can. Eligibility for IRS programs depends on your specific income, assets, and expenses, so no honest company can promise a settlement or a specific outcome before reviewing your case. Be cautious of any firm that guarantees results before it has seen your finances.
Checked Us Out? Talk to Us for Free
Once you've verified whatever you want to verify, the next step is a free, confidential consultation. Our experienced tax professionals will review your situation, explain your real options in plain English, and tell you honestly whether we can help — no pressure, no obligation.
Clarity Tax Relief is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. Eligibility for IRS programs depends on individual facts and circumstances; not all taxpayers qualify for every program, and no specific outcome is guaranteed.
Keep reading: Our Complaint Record & How We Handle Them · About Us · Client Reviews · Our Published Pricing · How to Spot Tax Relief Scams · Is Tax Relief Legit?.