IRS Solutions vs. Tax Help Software

Find out why tax pros prefer IRS Solutions.

How IRS Solutions^® and Tax Help Software Really Compare

IRS Solutions® and Tax Help Software may appear similar at first, but the differences are clear. IRS Solutions is built as a complete, cloud-based software with tools for transcript monitoring, case management and tracking, client-facing features, and integrated resolution tools. Tax Help Software is limited to desktop use and primarily focuses on transcript download and analysis.

For tax, financial, and legal firms that need an all-in-one solution to manage resolution cases from start to finish, IRS Solutions provides everything at a single predictable membership price. By contrast, Tax Help Software requires you to work in a fixed location and often means adding other tools to handle billing, client portals, or compliance calculations.

This page highlights the key differences to help you make an informed decision and select the software that best supports your practice and your clients.

Side-by-Side Comparison

IRS Solutions

vs.

Tax Help Software

IRS Solutions is hosted in the cloud. It's accessible via a web browser from any internet-enabled device.

Platform Hosting

Installed locally on desktops or laptops; access is limited to those devices.

Your information security is our highest priority. IRS Solutions is hosted on AWS GovCloud, and data is always encrypted. Two-factor authentication and continuous backups provide additional layers of protection. IRS Solutions is hosted in a FedRAMP-authorized environment specifically for government-level data.

Data & Security

Data is stored on local machines without built-in encryption or cloud backup. Users are responsible for their own security measures.

IRS Solutions is an all-in-one system developed to resolve tax resolution cases efficiently. Guided workflows include OICs, Installment Agreements, and more. They include editable letters, reports, POAs, and IRS forms.

Workflow & Step-by-Step Case Guidance

Does not include guided workflows. Focuses primarily on transcript delivery and analysis.

Embedded calculators help you determine the resolution option (OIC, IA, CNC status) most likely to be accepted by the IRS based on client financials.

Collection Alternatives

Resolution recommendation tools are not available.

IRS Solutions includes advanced bankruptcy dischargeability reports in every plan, whereas other providers often charge extra for these standalone tools.

Bankruptcy Calculator

Tax Help Software subscriptions don’t include everything you need for tax resolution. This is a paid add-on service or can be purchased as a stand-alone feature.

Fully integrated, bulk automatic transcript downloads are embedded into the system and can download up to 100,000 transcripts per hour.

Transcript Retrieval & Analysis

Performance depends on local computer bandwidth and internet connection; processes may time out during large downloads.

We help your practice grow! The system easily accommodates collaboration and team growth with scalable user tiers and discounts.

Scalability & Flexibility

Licensed per seat. Collaboration is more limited since data is stored on individual computers.

Every IRS Solutions membership includes full access to IAN (IRS Advance Notice™), our award-winning feature that peers into the IRS system and alerts you to a wide range of critical transcript changes, including Wage and Income Discrepancies, Possible Audits, Federal Tax Lien, Installment Agreement modifications, OIC activity, passport certification to the Secretary of State, CP 2000, and many others.

Transcript Monitoring

Tax Help Software provides notifications for CP2000 notices (underreported income).

IRS Solutions offers built-in invoicing tools with pre-designed templates and one-click payment links for clients to streamline billing and accounts receivable.

Invoicing and Payments

Invoicing and payment tools are not included. Requires additional services.

CRM tools, including a custom-branded client portal, enable secure file sharing and configurable reminders to be fast and easy.

Client Portal & Document Management

Designed as a back-office tool. Does not include client-facing features.

One flat monthly/annual membership fee includes every feature. There are never any extras or add-ons.

Fee Transparency & All-Included Pricing

Base pricing covers transcript tools. Additional features (billing, calculators) are sold separately.

Includes professional marketing resources such as social graphics, brochures, email templates, pricing guides, and workbooks to support client acquisition.

Branded Client Marketing Toolkit

Provides basic flyer templates with limited design quality.

Disclaimer: This comparison is based on publicly available information sourced from available documentation, marketing materials, third-party review sites, and software specifications as of January 2026 and our good-faith understanding of each product. Features may change over time. Please contact the respective provider for the most current details.

The Clear IRS Solutions^® Advantage

IRS Solutions is a stronger option for tax, financial, and legal firms that need secure, flexible tools to serve clients from anywhere.

Cloud Security: Hosted on AWS GovCloud with encryption and automatic backup, IRS Solutions® protects against device-specific risks. Tax Help Software is desktop-based, so users are responsible for local security.
Enterprise-Grade Compliance: Even small and mid-sized practices can meet the same data security standards as larger firms.
All-in-One Solution: IRS Solutions® combines transcripts, case management, billing, and client tools in one system. Tax Help Software focuses only on transcripts.
Continuous Transcript Monitoring: IRS Advance Notice™ alerts users to a wide variety of transcript changes before the IRS issues notices, eliminating manual checks.
Guided Workflows: Built-in guidance supports Offers in Compromise, Installment Agreements, Currently Not Collectible status, and more.
Professional Marketing Resources: Membership includes branded, client-ready materials that help firms promote services with confidence.
Transparent Pricing: One flat membership fee includes every feature. Tax Help Software requires add-on purchases for key tools.
Client-Ready Reports: IRS Solutions® generates polished, easy-to-share reports, while Tax Help Software outputs focus on raw data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers you need to make a more informed decision when comparing IRS Solutions and Tax Help Software.

Isn’t my data safer on my own computer than in the cloud?

No. Local storage may feel more secure because the device is under your control, but it comes with significant risks:

Security depends entirely on staff keeping antivirus, encryption, and software patches up to date.
Backups must be scheduled and verified manually, leaving room for error or missed intervals.
There is no built-in redundancy or disaster recovery if the device is lost, stolen, or attacked by ransomware.
Staff behaviors, such as weak passwords or insecure credential storage, create additional vulnerabilities.
Physical accidents — such as a dropped laptop or a liquid spill — can permanently damage both hardware and data.

IRS Solutions is SOC 2® compliant and removes these risks by hosting data on AWS GovCloud, the same secure environment used by the IRS and Department of Defense. With 256-bit AES encryption, multi-factor authentication, and continuous backups, your data stays protected against malware, theft, and system failures. By contrast, Tax Help Software relies on local storage, which leaves security and maintenance in the hands of individual users.

THS says it’s the most secure way to access transcripts because it doesn’t use intermediate servers. Is that true?

No. Both desktop and cloud-based tools – including IRS Solutions® – connect to the IRS e-Services Transcript Delivery System (TDS) using your authorized credentials. IRS Solutions® is a certified Intermediary Service Provider (ISP), as are all software providers that integrate with the TDS.

The idea that avoiding “intermediate servers” is inherently safer is not supported. In practice, desktop applications rely on the user’s local machine, which is often more vulnerable to phishing, malware, and configuration errors. By contrast, IRS Solutions® is hosted on AWS GovCloud, a secure, encrypted environment that meets the same standards used by federal agencies, providing a stronger layer of protection than most local systems.

How does AWS GovCloud deliver stronger compliance and access control than a desktop system?

AWS GovCloud operates in physically and logically isolated U.S.-only data centers. These locations are managed by U.S. citizens and certified to a FedRAMP-authorized environment specifically for government-level data, IRS Publication 1075, ITAR, and other federal standards, ensuring elevated protection for tax data. Your desktop installations are simply unable to meet these regulatory and audit-driven safeguards.

How will IRS Solutions® help me attract more clients than Tax Help Software?

IRS Solutions® is more than tax resolution software—it’s a membership designed to support both your practice and your growth. Every plan includes a professionally designed Marketing Toolbox with white-labeled, editable resources explicitly built for tax resolution services and transcript monitoring. Materials such as social media graphics, brochures, pricing guides, and client-facing templates are modern, polished, and updated regularly. They make it easy to project a trustworthy, professional image that helps you win and retain clients year-round.

By comparison, Tax Help Software offers limited flyers and templates; lacking the depth needed to showcase a specialized tax resolution practice in today’s competitive market.

What Do Tax Pros Say About IRS Solutions?

Tax resolution specialists, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, accounting professionals, attorneys
and even ex-IRS agents all praise IRS Solutions.

"I am pleased with the product and use it as the main program to interact with our tax resolution clients. I really like the speed of downloading transcripts and the secure portal for collecting financial information. But the best features are the IRS Solutions Advance Notice actions and the monitoring feature for POA submissions."

Mark Willi, EA

Willi Law Office LLC
Member Since 2023

"This software is great and allows me to help my clients even more in their tax and IRS situations. So many features are available, easy to use and implement. Customer support is great, and the software is easy to integrate. I would recommend this software to anyone who wants to help their clients even. I use it on a daily basis."

Harvey Fisher, EA

Fisher Tax Solution Inc
Member Since 2019

"IRS Solutions is the best kept secret in the tax representation space. We made the switch after testing it, finding it faster and easier to get collections forms filled out by clients & to monitor their transcripts while looking for abatement opportunities. I recommend trying it in parallel w/ your current software to see if you like it as much as we do."