Short answer
A free consultation with Global Gate Tax Relief is a no-obligation conversation about your IRS letters, balance and deadlines. You learn whether you can fix it yourself, and, if the firm takes the case, you get a flat fee quoted before any work begins. It will not quote a settlement figure or promise an outcome before reviewing your IRS transcripts.
Key takeaways
- Have every IRS letter, your last filed return, a rough monthly income and expense picture, and any levy or garnishment paperwork ready.
- You can see your balance by year, transcripts and digital notices yourself in your IRS Individual Online Account before the call.
- If the firm takes the case, the order is Form 2848, IRS transcripts, a strategy, then representation, for a flat fee quoted upfront.
- No one can honestly quote a settlement or guarantee a result in a first call; the FTC warns against companies that do.
- A consultation does not pause IRS deadlines: a 30-day hearing window keeps running whether or not you have called anyone.
What the free consultation is, and what it isn't
Global Gate Tax Relief is a private tax-resolution firm in Irvine, California. It has worked on IRS matters since 2017 and serves clients in all 50 states; because IRS matters are federal, the work is handled remotely by phone, email and secure document sharing. Its team, per its website, includes licensed tax attorneys, IRS enrolled agents and CPAs, supported by case managers and tax consultants.
The consultation is free and carries no obligation. Its purpose is to answer three questions:
- What is happening with your IRS account, and how urgent is it?
- Can you resolve it yourself, for example with an online payment plan?
- If not, what would professional help involve and what would the flat fee be?
It is not the IRS, it is not a decision on what you qualify for, and it is not a settlement offer. The firm says it declines cases where it can’t add value beyond its fee and tells callers with small balances how to handle the matter themselves.
To request one, use the free consultation form or call 1-877-800-8180, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
What to have ready for a tax relief consultation
You don’t need a perfect file. The more of this you have, the more specific the conversation can be.
| Item | Why it matters | If you don’t have it |
|---|---|---|
| Every IRS letter, newest first | The notice number (CP14, CP504, LT11, Letter 1058 and so on) shows where you are in collection, and the date on it sets your deadlines. | Check digital notices in your IRS Online Account, or call the IRS at 800-829-1040 (IRS.gov, 2026). |
| Your last filed tax return | Shows income, filing status and household size, which drive which options are realistic. | Download a return transcript in your Online Account. |
| A list of years you haven’t filed | Most IRS relief requires every required return to be filed first. | An account transcript shows which years the IRS has no return for. |
| Monthly income and expenses (rough is fine) | Ability to pay decides between a payment plan, an offer in compromise and currently not collectible status. | Use last month’s bank statement as a starting point. |
| Assets and equity: home, vehicles, retirement and bank accounts | The IRS counts equity when it judges what you can pay. | Estimates are fine for a first call. |
| Levy or garnishment paperwork | A bank levy notice or a wage levy given to your employer means the case is urgent. | Ask your bank or payroll department for a copy of what they received. |
| Any payment plan or offer already in place | Defaulting on an existing plan, or a pending offer, changes the options. | Your Online Account shows existing payment plans. |
If you have a business, add the business’s notices, payroll tax filings and whether trust fund taxes (withheld employee taxes) are involved. Our page on how to respond to an IRS notice explains what each part of a letter means.
What you can do yourself before the call
Fifteen minutes in your IRS Individual Online Account answers most of the questions any consultant will ask. Per IRS.gov, the account lets you:
- view amounts owed by tax year and up to five years of payment history;
- view digital IRS notices;
- get transcripts (the IRS calls the account “the fastest, easiest way” to view, print or download them);
- apply for a new payment plan or view and revise an existing one;
- approve and electronically sign power of attorney requests from your tax professional.
If you can’t register online, you can order tax return and tax account transcripts by mail through Get Transcript or by calling 800-908-9946; they arrive in 5 to 10 calendar days.
What happens if Global Gate takes the case
- Free consultation. A conversation about your letters, balance, filing status and deadlines. If you can resolve it yourself, you are told how.
- Flat fee, quoted upfront. If the firm takes the case, it quotes a flat fee before any work begins. It does not bill hourly, does not add fees mid-case and does not use long-term contracts.
- Form 2848 and transcripts. The firm files Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative (Rev. 1-2021 (IRS.gov, 1-2021)), so a licensed representative can deal with the IRS and pull your IRS transcripts.
- Strategy. Only after reviewing the transcripts does the firm recommend an option: a payment plan, an offer in compromise, penalty relief, currently not collectible status or something else. It will not quote a settlement figure before this point.
- Representation. The firm deals with the IRS on your behalf. In urgent levy cases it can often act within 24 to 72 hours of engagement; when a levy is released depends on the IRS.
Whatever firm you use, the options are the same IRS options you could request yourself. Our comparison of IRS relief options explains each one, and enrolled agent, CPA or tax attorney explains who can represent you.
Questions to ask any tax relief firm
Ask every firm these, including Global Gate. Write down the answers, and get the fee terms in writing before you pay.
- Who will represent me, what is their credential, and will they sign my Form 2848?
- Will you review my IRS transcripts before recommending an option or estimating an outcome?
- What is the total fee, what does it cover, and when is each payment due?
- How will you bill me, and do you offer refunds? (The FTC suggests asking both.)
- Are there monthly fees, and when do they stop?
- Which parts could I do myself, and would you tell me if I don’t need you?
- What will you file, and when, and will I get copies of everything sent to the IRS?
- What happens if the IRS rejects the request?
The Federal Trade Commission’s advice on tax relief companies gives the answers that should end the conversation:
- Being told to pay the whole fee upfront: “If they say that, walk away.”
- Being told you “qualify”: “Only the IRS or your state comptroller can decide what you qualify for.”
- Pricey monthly “maintenance fees” that “add up quickly.”
- Other customers’ results presented as yours: “no company can promise a particular result.”
More warning signs are in tax relief scams to avoid and questions to ask a tax relief company.
What a free consultation can't tell you
- A settlement figure. What the IRS will accept depends on your transcripts, filing compliance, income, expenses and asset equity. Global Gate does not quote a figure before reviewing transcripts, and you should be wary of anyone who does.
- A guaranteed result. The IRS decides. No outcome is guaranteed.
- Whether you qualify. Only the IRS decides what you qualify for.
- A pause in collection. Calling a firm does not stop anything at the IRS.
Free alternatives to a tax relief firm
A free consultation with a firm is a sales conversation as well as an assessment. These options are free, or nearly free, and have no fee to sell you:
| Option | Best for | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| The IRS directly | Payment plans, penalty relief requests, questions about a notice | The phone number on your notice, or the Online Payment Agreement |
| Taxpayer Advocate Service | An IRS problem causing financial difficulty, or one that normal IRS channels have failed to fix. TAS says “our service is always free.” | 877-777-4778 (IRS.gov, 2026) or Form 911 (Rev. 6-2026 (IRS.gov, 6-2026)) |
| Low Income Taxpayer Clinics | Representation before the IRS or in court on audits, appeals and collection, if your income is below the clinic’s limit | IRS LITC page and Publication 4134; free or a small fee |
For more, see our guide to choosing help and free IRS resources. If your case does need a professional, you can request a free consultation with Global Gate or with any licensed firm you have checked out.
Frequently asked questions
Global Gate’s consultation is free and carries no obligation. If the firm takes the case, it quotes a flat fee before any work begins. With any firm, ask whether the first call is free, what the fee will be and when each payment is due before you agree to anything.
Every IRS letter, your last filed return, a list of unfiled years, a rough monthly income and expense picture, a list of assets, and any levy or garnishment paperwork. Your IRS Online Account has your balance by year, transcripts and digital notices if papers are missing.
Not honestly, not in a first call. What the IRS accepts depends on your transcripts, compliance, income, expenses and equity. Global Gate does not quote a settlement figure before reviewing IRS transcripts, and the FTC warns that no company can promise a particular result.
No. Collection, and deadlines such as the 30 days window to request a Collection Due Process hearing after a final notice, keep running until something is filed with the IRS or the IRS agrees to a hold or plan.
Form 2848 authorizes a named individual to represent you before the IRS and see your tax information. You sign it only if you hire a representative. You may be able to approve the request electronically in your IRS Online Account.
Often not. If you have filed all returns and can afford a monthly payment, you can usually apply for a Simple Payment Plan yourself in the IRS Online Payment Agreement. Global Gate says it tells callers with small balances how to handle it themselves.
No. Global Gate Tax Relief is a private firm. IRS programs such as payment plans, offers in compromise and penalty relief are available to anyone directly from the IRS; a firm can help you apply, but has no special access.
Sources
- IRS: Your online account (reviewed 16 Oct 2026)
- IRS: Get transcript (reviewed 27 Jun 2026)
- IRS: About Form 2848
- IRS: Online payment agreement application
- IRS: Understanding tax return preparer credentials and qualifications
- IRS: The Taxpayer Advocate Service is your voice at the IRS (reviewed 14 Oct 2026)
- IRS Form 911 (Rev. 6-2026)
- IRS: Low Income Taxpayer Clinics (reviewed 2 Apr 2026)
- FTC Consumer Advice: Trouble paying your taxes? (tax relief companies)
- IRS Tax Topic 254, How to choose a tax return preparer
We check every figure against IRS.gov and log changes on the key figures page.
Want a professional to look at your options?
Free consultation, no obligation. If we take your case, the flat fee is quoted upfront before any work begins. If you can handle it yourself through IRS.gov, we will tell you. No outcome is guaranteed.
This page is general information about IRS rules, not tax or legal advice for your situation. IRS figures change; each one links to its official source and the date we last checked it.