Tax Lien Code Reviews: What Trustpilot, BBB, Yelp and Reddit Show (2026)
TL;DR
Tax Lien Code is an education company (free event, then a paid 3-day course, then coaching). On 18 September 2026 it showed 4.9 stars from 2,588 Trustpilot reviews, an A+ BBB rating with 20 complaints closed in three years, and 2.3 stars from 36 Yelp reviews. The positive reviews praise named coaches; the complaints are about how the training is sold and what it costs after the first $997. Every quote below is verbatim from a linked public source.
Review counts, ratings and quotes on this page were checked against the linked sources on 18 September 2026. They change; the links are the record.
What Tax Lien Code is
Tax Lien Code, based in Overland Park, Kansas, sells tax lien and tax deed education: a free local event it calls a Fast Start Event, a 3-day course, advanced courses, coaching and a resource it calls the TLC Marketplace. Its site says its program makes tax lien investing simple and efficient. It is not auction software; it does not publish sale lists or parcel data.
The company publishes no prices. Its events page listed twelve four-day events between 16 September and 10 October 2026 (Greensboro, Los Angeles, San Jose, Detroit, Raleigh, Sacramento, Nashville, Boise, Grand Rapids, Dallas, Knoxville, Chicago) with no price shown and registration off-site. Every dollar figure on this page comes from customers, not the company.
The review profile, platform by platform
Checked on 18 September 2026. Counts change; the links are the record.
| Platform | Rating | Volume | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.9 of 5 | 2,588 reviews, 406 in the last 12 months | 95% five-star, 2% one-star |
| BBB | A+, accredited | 20 complaints closed in 3 years, 5 in the last 12 months | 566 customer reviews on the profile |
| Yelp | 2.3 of 5 | 36 reviews | Listing is claimed by the business |
| no rating | Two threads read in full | r/realestateinvesting (26 points, 101 comments) and r/RealEstate (14 comments) |
What the complaints say, verbatim
The BBB complaints are grouped as billing issues and describe the same sequence: a free class, a $997 3-day workshop, then a larger package.
“My wife I paid $997 for a 3 day Tax Lien workshop on January 15-17, 2026 to learn how to invest in tax liens and tax deeds. That did not happen”BBB complaint, billing issues, 17 January 2026: read it at the source
“Tax Lien Code advertised that they are conducting a free Tax lien buying class. In the class they now told us that to be successful, we have to go”BBB complaint, billing issues, 13 November 2025: read it at the source
“Signed up for a conference paying $10,000. After researching the company its reputation is poor and I do not want to attend.”BBB complaint, order issues, 17 September 2025: read it at the source
“Essentially, this is a $25K mentoring package that does not offer anything that isn't already freely available”Trustpilot, one-star review by Jim Rebensdorf, May 2024: read it at the source
“Bait and switch company. The 'seminar' was to sell you more.”Trustpilot, one-star review by Michelle, 24 March 2025: read it at the source
Sales pressure at the events (Yelp)
Yelp is where the live-event experience is described in most detail.
“By day two, attendees are pitched programs costing $26,000-$48,000, framed as 'now or never.'”Yelp review by Truth F., Beverly Hills, 6 February 2026: read it at the source
“VERY EXPENSIVE training ranging from $6,800 to as much as $40,000.”Yelp review by Andrew S., St. Peters MO, 11 May 2026: read it at the source
“we kept getting new coaches every time we asked for a refund. The 'training' is absolutely NOT worth the amount of money they charge.”Yelp review by Diana G., Albuquerque, 21 June 2026: read it at the source
“once you declined, they dropped you like a ball from the top of the Empire State building.”Yelp review by Carolyn K., Los Angeles, 18 November 2025: read it at the source
The upsell chain (Reddit)
The r/realestateinvesting thread was started by someone who liked the $1,000 course and came back to report what followed.
“Be prepared for these charges: Free course > $1k package offer> $30-60k package offer > $25k personal coaching offer”Reddit r/realestateinvesting, original poster's update, 2024: read it at the source
“The content is 15-20% new information and resources, the rest is a repeat and generalized”Reddit r/realestateinvesting, original poster's update, 2024: read it at the source
“They will try to get you to buy the Diamond package for 40K and even encourage you to get in debt by applying for more credit cards”Reddit r/realestateinvesting, comment, 2025: read it at the source
“They asked us to fill out a questionnaire form that asked for our personal financial information. I didn't feel comfortable”Reddit r/realestateinvesting, comment (6 points), 2025: read it at the source
“Like ATG Advanced Tax Group and you add $8000 to have your taxes for your business filed for the rest of your life”Reddit r/RealEstate, comment, 2026: read it at the source
What the positive reviews say, fairly
The five-star reviews are numerous and specific, and most of them praise a named coach. Two Reddit commenters in the critical threads also report results. A fair reading of all of it: the coaching appears to deliver for people who buy the full path, and the complaints concentrate on how it is sold and what it costs after the first step.
“Coach Shah has been patient guiding us. We've purchased 20 liens already and feel supported in our investment journey.”Trustpilot, five-star review by Rick R., 28 August 2026: read it at the source
“Eric Roberts as coach has been excellent. He's patient, knowledgeable and takes time explaining terms and strategies thoroughly.”Trustpilot, five-star review by Ev Brown, 6 May 2026: read it at the source
“The tax lien and tax deed education itself is legitimate and useful. If you're new, you will learn how the process works.”Yelp review by Truth F. (the same one-star reviewer quoted above), 6 February 2026: read it at the source
“Im going through the program and its going fantastic for me. I can verify my coaches actually do what they say.”Reddit r/RealEstate, comment, 2026: read it at the source
One thing several reviewers say about the reviews
Two reviewers on different platforms raise the same point about the five-star wall. We have no way to verify it and do not claim it; we quote it because a reader comparing a 4.9 on Trustpilot with a 2.3 on Yelp will want to know it was said.
“Notice how all of the 5 star reviews are from profiles that only have 1 review? Because”Trustpilot, one-star review by Graham, 11 December 2025: read it at the source
“I have a feeling that all of the 5-Star reviews are or have been written in house.”Yelp review by Andrew S., 11 May 2026: read it at the source
Before you pay anyone for tax lien training
Read the BBB complaint texts, not the letter grade; the narratives show how a company behaves when a customer wants out. Ask for the total cost of the full path in writing before attending anything. Do not fill in a financial-information form at a live event. Check what is free first: county treasurer sites publish the sale lists, rules and dates at no cost. Get the refund policy in writing and pay by card so you have dispute rights. And treat a review profile that is near-perfect on one platform and troubled on the others as a question to ask, not a verdict.
The TaxLienSimple alternative
TaxLienSimple is a research tool, not a seminar. The Academy is free: 60 short lessons on liens, deeds, redemption and bidding, no workshop and no coach to buy afterwards. Prices are on the pricing page: a free plan with no card, Pro at $39 a month ($31 on annual), Unlimited at $69 a month ($55 on annual). Nobody calls you. The data is 299,000 tracked parcels across 824 counties, every one linked to the county page or statute it came from, with a max-bid calculator and deadline tracking. If you want to learn first, start with the Academy; if you want to compare tools, the software comparison page lists what each platform actually does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tax Lien Code legit?
It is a registered, BBB-accredited business with thousands of positive reviews and students who report buying liens. It also has 20 BBB complaints closed in three years, a 2.3-star Yelp rating and Reddit threads describing an upsell path from a $997 workshop to packages reviewers put at $25,000 to $60,000. Read the linked complaints and decide with the evidence in front of you.
How much does Tax Lien Code cost?
The company publishes no prices. Customers on BBB, Yelp, Trustpilot and Reddit report $997 for the 3-day workshop, $6,800 for private coaching, and advanced packages of $25,000 to $60,000. Confirm current pricing directly before attending.
Can you get a refund from Tax Lien Code?
Several BBB and Yelp reviewers describe difficulty getting one; one Reddit commenter reports a successful credit-card chargeback on the $1,000 course. Get the refund policy in writing before paying and pay by card.
Are the 5-star Tax Lien Code reviews real?
Many name specific coaches and read as genuine. Two reviewers on Trustpilot and Yelp question them; we cannot verify that and do not claim it. Weigh all four platforms together.
Is there a free way to learn tax lien investing?
Yes. County treasurer websites publish the rules and sale lists free, and the TaxLienSimple Academy is a free 60-lesson course with no upsell.