You Deserve More Than a Case Number
At Phoenix Tax Resolution Strategies, every client is handled personally — not passed to a junior staffer or a call center on the other side of the country.
The Person Behind the Resolution
A. Erik Wesphalen didn't set out to become one of the country's most experienced IRS resolution specialists. He started with a deep curiosity about how money, law, and government intersect — a curiosity that took him from a finance and accounting degree at Lehigh University, to an MBA at Cornell's Johnson Graduate School, and finally to a Masters in Legal Studies of Taxation at NYU School of Law. That rare combination of financial acumen, business strategy, and tax law expertise became the foundation of everything he does today.
Over the course of three decades, Erik has represented thousands of individuals and businesses before the IRS — from wage earners facing their first garnishment to business owners navigating six-figure payroll tax liabilities. He became an Enrolled Agent because it gave him the broadest authority to represent taxpayers in all 50 states, and because it reflects a commitment to specialization. Tax resolution isn't something Erik does on the side. It's all he does.
What sets Erik apart isn't just his credentials — it's his refusal to delegate your case to someone less qualified. In an industry full of firms that use TV ads to collect leads and then hand your file to an entry-level case manager, Erik made a deliberate choice to keep his practice personal. When you call Phoenix Tax Resolution Strategies, you get Erik. When the IRS calls about your case, they get Erik. That continuity matters more than most people realize — and it shows in the results.
"I have never once believed in farming a case out. Your situation is too important for that."
Erik operates with a simple philosophy: tell the truth, know the rules better than the person across the table, and fight like it's your own money on the line. He won't promise outcomes he can't deliver, and he won't sugarcoat a difficult situation just to close a deal. That honesty has earned him the trust of over 6,500 clients — and an 89% resolution success rate that speaks for itself.
Education & Qualifications
What Makes This Practice Different
Personal Representation
Erik handles your case from the very first phone call to the final IRS resolution letter. You speak with the expert who's actually doing the work — not an intake coordinator, not a junior associate, not someone reading from a script. This means faster decisions, smarter strategy, and no communication gaps.
No Case Minimums
Whether you owe $10,000 or $1,000,000, every case receives the same meticulous attention. Some firms won't take your call unless you owe six figures. Erik believes that the stress of a $15,000 IRS debt is just as real to the person living it — and that everyone deserves a clear path forward.
Transparent Process
You'll know exactly where your case stands at every step. Erik provides regular updates, explains what's happening with the IRS in plain language, and sets realistic expectations from day one. No surprises, no runaround, and no dodged phone calls.
What Erik Believes
Every taxpayer deserves a fair shot at resolution — regardless of how they got into the situation. The IRS has rules, and those rules include programs designed to help people who genuinely can't pay. Erik's job is to make sure his clients get every benefit those rules provide, not just the ones the IRS volunteers.
That requires knowing the Internal Revenue Manual better than the agent on the other side of the phone. It requires understanding how the IRS evaluates financial hardship, how it calculates Reasonable Collection Potential, and where the negotiation leverage actually lives. Three decades of daily practice builds that kind of expertise — the kind you can't get from a certification alone.
But expertise without honesty is just salesmanship. Erik believes the most valuable thing he can offer a client is a realistic assessment. Sometimes the best advice is "here's what the IRS will likely accept, and here's what it will cost you." That candor builds trust — and trust is what carries a case from that first anxious phone call to a final resolution you can live with.
Common Questions
An Enrolled Agent is the only tax professional licensed directly by the IRS with unlimited representation rights before the agency. A CPA's primary focus is accounting; a tax attorney focuses on litigation. An EA specializes specifically in IRS representation — it's the most targeted credential for resolving tax debt.
Yes. Every case at Phoenix Tax Resolution Strategies is handled personally by A. Erik Wesphalen from the initial consultation through final resolution. Your case is never assigned to a junior associate or processing team.
We charge a flat fee based on the complexity of your case — not an hourly rate. You'll know exactly what you're paying before we start. We discuss fees openly during the free consultation.
Absolutely. As a federally licensed Enrolled Agent, A. Erik Wesphalen is authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS in all 50 states. All consultations are conducted by phone or secure video call.
The large firms advertise heavily and assign your case to a rotating team of junior staff. At Phoenix Tax Resolution, you work directly with Erik from day one. You'll have his direct contact information and speak with him — not a case manager — whenever you have a question.