Question 1

How does Relief Monitor work?

Accepted Answer

You tell us what you'd like monitored, securely authorize access to the information required, and Relief Monitor establishes a baseline for your IRS account. From there, we check for meaningful changes on an ongoing basis and turn what we find into plain-language alerts and reports.

Question 2

What does Relief Monitor monitor?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor tracks IRS account activity such as return filing and processing status, balances by tax period, payments posting, payment-plan signals, and other account changes that are reliably identifiable from the data we have access to.

Question 3

How often is my IRS account checked?

Accepted Answer

Your account is checked on an ongoing, automated basis. When a meaningful change is detected, it's added to your monitoring history and reflected in your next alert or report.

Question 4

What changes can Relief Monitor detect?

Accepted Answer

Examples include balance changes, payments posting, a return moving from unprocessed to processed, payment-plan status signals, and new account activity. What can be detected depends on what's actually visible in the underlying IRS data.

Question 5

Can Relief Monitor tell whether my tax relief company is doing the work?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor can show you what the IRS record shows — filings, payments, balances, and account changes — which gives you an independent way to see whether visible progress lines up with what you were told. It cannot see internal communications, case files, or work a firm may be doing that hasn't yet produced a visible IRS-side change.

Question 6

Can Relief Monitor prove my tax company did nothing?

Accepted Answer

No. Relief Monitor cannot determine, from IRS account data alone, whether a professional acted properly, improperly, or not at all. IRS processing takes time, and an absence of visible change is not proof that nothing was done — it's a signal that may be worth asking about.

Question 7

Can I keep my current tax professional while using Relief Monitor?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Relief Monitor is designed to work alongside your existing representative, not replace them. It gives you your own independent view of the IRS record.

Question 8

Does Relief Monitor replace my tax attorney?

Accepted Answer

No. Relief Monitor is a monitoring service, not legal or tax representation. It does not replace an attorney, CPA, EA, or other professional.

Question 9

Does Relief Monitor negotiate with the IRS?

Accepted Answer

No. Relief Monitor does not negotiate settlements, payment plans, or any resolution with the IRS on your behalf. It monitors and reports on what the IRS record shows.

Question 10

Can Relief Monitor see whether my tax returns were filed?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor can reflect filing and processing status as it appears in IRS account data, and will show that status as “Confirmed in IRS data” or flag it as “Not yet visible” when appropriate, rather than guessing.

Question 11

Can Relief Monitor see whether my payments were received?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor can reflect payments as they post to your IRS account. Timing can lag behind when a payment was actually sent, so recent payments may show as “Awaiting IRS processing” before they're confirmed.

Question 12

Can Relief Monitor tell whether I have an IRS payment plan?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor can reflect payment-plan status and related signals as they appear in your IRS account data, including whether a missed payment has been detected.

Question 13

Can Relief Monitor monitor an Offer in Compromise?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor can monitor account changes that are relevant to an Offer in Compromise where those changes are reliably identifiable in IRS account data. It does not manage, submit, or negotiate an offer.

Question 14

Can I use Relief Monitor if I'm handling my tax problem myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many people use Relief Monitor specifically to confirm that self-filed returns, payments, and payment plans are appearing as expected — without hiring a firm.

Question 15

Can Relief Monitor alert me to new IRS problems?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor watches for meaningful changes — such as an unexpected balance increase or new account activity — and alerts you when something appears to need attention. It cannot guarantee it will detect every issue before the IRS mails a notice.

Question 16

Does Relief Monitor call the IRS?

Accepted Answer

No. Relief Monitor does not place phone calls to the IRS on your behalf. Monitoring is based on IRS account data.

Question 17

What IRS information can Relief Monitor access?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor accesses only the IRS account information necessary to provide monitoring, based on the authorization you provide. We describe exactly what's being accessed before you authorize it.

Question 18

Is Relief Monitor affiliated with the IRS?

Accepted Answer

No. Relief Monitor is an independent monitoring service. We are not the IRS and not a government agency.

Question 19

How is my tax information protected?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor uses encryption, access controls, and authorization safeguards described in detail on our Security page. We only describe protections we've actually implemented.

Question 20

Can I cancel monitoring?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can cancel your monitoring subscription at any time.

Question 21

What happens when Relief Monitor detects a change?

Accepted Answer

The change is added to your monitoring history, and depending on your alert preferences, you're notified so you can review what changed and decide whether it needs a closer look.

Question 22

Do I receive reports?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Relief Monitor provides periodic reports summarizing what changed, your case direction, and any items that may need attention.

Question 23

Can I download my monitoring history?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your monitoring history and reports are available to download from your dashboard.

Question 24

Do I need to give Relief Monitor Power of Attorney?

Accepted Answer

Relief Monitor's access model is designed around what is genuinely required to provide monitoring. We explain exactly what authorization is being requested, and why, before you provide it — monitoring access is not automatically the same as appointing Relief Monitor as your representative.

Frequently asked questions