Optima Tax Relief Reviews

I've talked to a couple of my friends who are saying that this tax relief is a rip off. My Husband and I have been with this company for a while and I don't see anything that they are doing to help us. My friends have said the same thing. I will be talking to a lawyer soon and they will not get another dime from us.

I contacted this company on January 28, 2025. I thought I had tax issues. I paid them $500 that day to "investigate" my case with the IRS. They told me on March 27, 2025, that it would cost me $8400 to let them get me compliant with the IRS. I later found out I had no tax arrears and all that was needed was for me to file 3 years tax to get compliant and we all know that is not $8400 worth of work. They told me today I would have to wait 30 days to get on a call with someone to discuss my refund given as of today they have done no work. I have screenshots of the portal and I'm glad I do because now it seems they are about to throw some tax documents together. Let's pray they don't submit them without my approval. Do yourself a favor and just CALL IRS for yourself.

Our experience is EXACTLY the same as the others, paid an obscene amount of money upfront and after almost 6 years we have been led to believe they were working on our taxes, zero communication unless we ruffled feathers, then out of nowhere we "graduate" and owe the same amount and have a payment agreement that we did not agree to. Don't waste your money!!

If you have a problem with your taxes and have come to Optima because you were told they fix problems you have with taxes, don’t. This is a total scam. After playing cat and mouse for a year of “send me papers for this that and the other thing”, they took my 2022 taxes (which they also asked for) and copy and pasted for 2023. What was the point of having you communicated with IRS to resolve the issue if you were going to cause me more time and money? I owe what I owed for 2022 for 2023 now. Communication is awful. You talk to a different person every time you call or email.

When I first contacted Optima in 2023, I told them what I thought the problem was. Over the entire process, I told numerous staff what issue is and what they need to research to file appeal...They charged me over $4000 before they even started to work on issue. A year later I get a call that they had "worked out" a payment plan with IRS. They did not even look at information I gave them! Supposedly in September 2024 they submitted the appeal and proof that I did not owe... March 2025 I get letter Notice from IRS they are going to garnish my wages. Can't get anyone to answer phone now. The entire time working with them they don't return calls or email when I leave messages. Now they keep sending emails for me to pay #39.00/month for some tax shield. I think not!

I reached out to Optima Tax Relief in June 2024 for assistance, for their advertised services, I made an agreement, signed a contract feeling I had hired qualified services. Well, I have been making monthly payments and have paid over 10K and when I have tried to contact them, via email from their portal, or leaving multiple voice messages for updates on my case, with no information provided. I have submitted multiple times the same forms they have requested for months, this also was very concerning to me. I stopped my payments and that is the ONLY time this company reached out to speak with me, and when I stated my concerns, they informed me that I have to pay them in order for a customer service person to speak with me, after I have paid over ten thousand dollars!!

I am very disappointed with Optima Tax, they sold me in our first conversation of all they could do and I was very frustrated with the IRS and how it was impossible to get through to someone and have a conversation with them that I signed up with Optima. I immediately regretted my decision within 5 days. They told me it would be best for them to do my 2024 taxes and when I started putting the information in it was the worst online tax application app that I have ever worked with. It assumed that if you had a 1099 you were self employed, I tried to call or get online help and it said I had no rep assigned. So I cancelled and figured I could do better by myself than using this antiquated app. So I cancelled in 5 days and I keep requesting my money back (15 day guarantee) and I keep getting put off now they have set up an appointment which will be 30 after I have canceled. I am prepared to get a lawyer if needed.

After working with Optima Tax Relief for several months it became clear that they had no idea how a small business works. Did not solve anything. I finally had to work around them to deal with the IRS through a local office to get a payment plan. I should have just given the Optima fees directly to the IRS, I'd be much better off.

I am sorry to have to add my name to this list. I should have researched prior to buying. After paying them over $2000, I finally cut them off. I had given them a cc and they were charging monthly until I cancelled the card. I received nothing but calls from foreign call centers that I could not understand. They did not do a thing for me!!!! I was offered $400 refund. Wow, how generous. I would not recommend to my worst enemy.

Where to start. First, DO NOT USE THEM OR PAY THEM ONE PENNY!! It is a total scam. The first person you talk with is a salesperson. They know nothing about taxes or tax law. Their job is to use fear to get your money. They got $10,000 out of me for a $50,000 tax bill, promising me they will get it reduced. I had no leins, just notices. When it was all said and done....I still had a $50,000 tax bill and an $1100 monthly payment to the IRS, which I never agreed to. I requested a $350 monthly payment, but the IRS said no dice. Optima had power of attorney and that was the deal.