John Harris was working as a CPA in 1997, but his vision was much larger than that. He was a man with an unstoppable entrepreneurial spirit. He envisioned building a large and successful business, but knew he needed to find an under-served niche in the marketplace to make his mark.

A break came and John found that niche when a local retailer asked him to solve a problem. The retailer had not paid his taxes for several years. Harris negotiated the retailer’s $90,000 tax liability down to $42,000, set up an installment plan with the Internal Revenue Service to pay off the balance, and received a $3,000 fee from the very grateful retailer.

For John, a light bulb went off. In resolving this tax problem - one shared by millions of Americans - Harris found the niche he was looking for to launch his new business.

Based on the success he had with the Charleston retailer, Harris began structuring a new company to serve this neglected market. He recruited ex-IRS agents, Enrolled Agents, paraprofessionals and other tax professionals, established a national sales force, launched an advertising program throughout the United States, and began helping taxpayers resolve their debts with the IRS through a variety of methods.

Harris' goal was simple: to give middle- and lower-income taxpayers affordably priced professional IRS representation that is usually available only to the wealthy. Typically, most clients who sought help from his new company were - and continue to be - in a crisis mode because of their debts. It is not uncommon for JK Harris clients to have several years of unpaid federal or state income taxes. Often times, these clients have been hit with wage garnishments, liens, and bank account levies, amongst other woes.

Once a new client signs on with JK Harris, JK Harris' team of professionals and paraprofessionals attempt to negotiate an Offer in Compromise (OIC), Installment Agreement or other method of resolution with the IRS. When an agreement is established, the OIC or Installment Agreement allows the client to reduce their tax debt, repaying it through an installment plan or a lump sum payment.

As the company continued to grow, Harris came to a logical conclusion: People with tax debts were also likely to have other unresolved financial matters. Logically, their lives were already in distress because of their mounting debt management problems. Their IRS dilemmas were just one symptom of much larger debt issues. It was from this idea that two other JK Harris companies were born: JK Harris Advisors and JK Harris Small Business Services. JK Harris Advisors is a company offering financial planning to help clients deal with their tax liabilities and long term financial goals. JK Harris Small Business Services works with businesses that need to have certain functions of their businesses – such as accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation – handled by an outside firm. This often allows the business owner(s) to concentrate on running their business efficiently and profitably.

JK Harris & Company LLC, now based in Goose Creek, S.C., is comprised of a family of three companies employing nearly 500 people. The company is recognized as the nation’s largest tax representation company. The company maintains its corporate headquarters in South Carolina and unlike its’ competitors, JK Harris consultants are available to meet with consumers, by appointment in over 325 locations in 43 states. Every week, 400 new clients turn to JK Harris & Company to get assistance in resolving their state and IRS tax issues.