The Standard
The Compliant Marketing Standard for Tax Resolution Pros
Three rulebooks govern every ad, page, and email you publish. Break them and you don't just lose a campaign — you risk a license, an FTC inquiry, or a suspended ad account. This is the one-page checklist we run every campaign through before it goes live.
RULEBOOK 1
Circular 230 §10.30How the IRS lets practitioners advertise & solicit.
RULEBOOK 2
FTC Act §5Truth-in-advertising & endorsement rules.
RULEBOOK 3
Ad-Platform PolicyGoogle & Meta financial-services restrictions.
1. Circular 230 IRS · Practitioner
Governs how enrolled practitioners may advertise and solicit (§10.30).
No false, fraudulent, coercive, or misleading claims about your services or credentials.
No guaranteed outcomes. "We'll wipe out your debt" / "guaranteed settlement" is out. Describe process, not promised results.
Fee statements must be honest and honored — if you publish a fee, you must stand behind it for the stated period.
Credentials stated accurately (CPA, EA, attorney) — no implying authority you don't hold.
Don't: "Settle your IRS debt for pennies on the dollar — guaranteed."
Do: "We help eligible taxpayers pursue Offer in Compromise and other IRS programs. Outcomes depend on your facts."
2. FTC Truth-in-Advertising Federal · Consumer
FTC Act §5 plus the Endorsement Guides. Tax relief is a known enforcement target.
Every claim must be truthful and substantiated before you run it — keep the proof on file.
Testimonials must be real, current, and representative. If a result isn't typical, say so — don't cherry-pick the best case.
Disclose material connections (paid endorsers, affiliates) clearly and near the claim.
Specific numbers ("saved clients $2M") need documented backup or they become deceptive.
Don't: Run five-star testimonials citing huge savings with no disclosure or substantiation.
Do: Use verified reviews; add "Results vary; not all clients qualify" where outcomes are referenced.
3. Ad-Platform Policy Google · Meta
Financial-services categories carry extra restrictions; "tax relief / debt" offers are scrutinized.
Expect heightened review on tax/debt-relief ads — landing pages must match the ad and disclose terms.
No misleading urgency or fear ("The IRS is coming for you TODAY"). Platforms suspend for it.
Required disclosures & identity — business clearly identified; no cloaked or doorway pages.
Confirm current policy before each launch — platform rules change quarterly.
Do: Educational, calm, specific ads with a matching landing page convert better AND survive review.
The Pre-Publish Checklist Run every time
No guarantees of outcome or specific dollar results.
Every claim has substantiation on file.
Testimonials real, disclosed, representative.
Credentials & fees accurate and current.
No fear-based or false-urgency hooks.
Landing page matches the ad; business clearly identified.
Reviewed against current platform policy.
Want us to run your funnel through this for free?
We'll audit your current marketing against this exact standard — and show you where your booked calls are leaking. Built by a 21-year tax pro and former FDOR Senior Tax Specialist.
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