Optima Tax Relief Reviews

I would never recommend this service. They advertise reduction in Tax Debt but do not deliver. I owe more now than when I contracted their service. They are selling a false bill of goods. After paying thousands I now have to work through an attorney to get the results I was told I was paying for.. Just go straight to an attorney. This company is a scam and fraudulent.

Updated on 08/20/2025: So, after posting a complaint with the BBB we *finally* heard back from them. And that was a whole 'nother crap show. In short, they offered us a $700 refund if we returned to using their services with the promise of a $1087 a month payment plan to the IRS, or a "courtesy refund" of $1,274.25. I was suspicious of this plan, so I decided to call the IRS Tax Officer that had been assigned to our account directly. You know, the one thing Optima keeps telling you NOT to do. Had an interesting conversation, summary was

Optima Tax Relief charged me almost $5000 upfront. When I called and asked what was happening with my issue, I would get a team number and a promise of a return call. Supervisors are NEVER available. I have NEVER received a return call from them until I complained to the BBB. I still don't know if my issue is resolved or not. I was told that OTR is "not a law firm so we cannot give you an itemized statement or tell you where your issue is in the process". This is a horrible rip off and scam and they should be shut down. I have written to the Attorney General of California and complained to the BBB twice. I would never suggest that anyone use them EVER. My next step is to try to get my bank to claw back the money and then - Off to the attorneys. This is HORRIBLE. The people are stonewall experts. It is a black hole of No information!

After being promised they would reduce my tax burden - and costing me approx $5K dollars. After one year of promises all they did was put me on the IRS payment Plan with no reduction in the tax liability. When I told them that everything they had promised me never came to fruition, they said OK. Take the money you were going to pay them and pay the IRS. They are a scam company. I finally worked with the IRS directly.

The IRS came at us for eventually $15K in fees and penalties, allegedly over 3-4 recent tax returns. Said we never filed, never paid, ignored their attempts to reach us. To try and keep this short, we had filed all returns, which were all IRS accepted, and all years we owed had been paid in full. We had the bank statements and return copies proving all of this and submitted it to Optima Tax Relief for proof of our case. The one thing I was guilty of, missing a signature page for our 2020 tax return regarding my business form. My only discrepancy ever in 48 years of filing tax returns. The IRS also only began sending notices about anything being wrong, about 3 years AFTER accepting my tax return and being paid for it. Long Story shorter: We had a 100% winnable case. AND, the IRS sent all notices to the wrong address, one that does not even exist, PLUS we proved we had always sent them our correct addresses for decades now.

My husband and I were scammed out of $10,000 by Optima Tax Relief under the promise that they would resolve our tax issues with the IRS. We were assured by their representatives that we qualified for significant tax relief and were repeatedly told that their legal and financial teams would handle everything on our behalf. After we paid the full amount, communication became inconsistent. They failed to provide any clear documentation of work performed. Despite our repeated attempts to get updates and results, we were only given generic reassurances with no evidence of actual progress. In some cases, our calls and emails went completely unanswered.

I used Optima Tax Relief 7 years ago and did one thing, they took our money and did nothing! Do not use them, the IRS will tell you they are scammed. You can work with IRS or hire a competent attorney, just do not use them!

Do NOT fall for their TV or radio ads. They promise federal and state tax help, but after charging us $7,232, we were told they “don’t handle state issues.” Classic bait-and-switch. They sold us a fantasy of tax relief, but all they did was offer an IRS payment plan—something we ended up doing ourselves for $200 less per month than their recommendation. We called the IRS directly and got a $600/month plan. Optima wanted us to pay $800/month—AFTER months of delays, lies, and getting ghosted. The first agent we were assigned quit in 2 weeks. After that, getting a callback took 3+ days each time, always from a new random person. Never consistent help. No accountability. Even the IRS warned us: they hear complaints about Optima all the time. We want a full refund.

Please do not get this service, they are a ripoff. I have paid them over $5000.00 and nothing has been done, absolutely nothing. Their salesperson told me everyone qualifies for abatement of penalties and lower monthly payment (this was not true, I have spoken to an IRS agent directly about this promise). Their salesperson also told me that they would reduce my monthly payment to a reasonable amount, because of their negligence with my account, the IRS has quadrupled the minimum payment they will accept to avoid any liens from my bank and payroll check. Their finance company has received over 5000 from me over a year's time but when I look on their site, they are only crediting me with about 1500 even though I have offered to send them my bank statements, but they have refused.

We just ended services with Optima Tax after over 3 years of virtually no help from them. They didn't even want to refund us the full amount and we had to call and fight via phone and email to get them to bump it up ever so slightly. IT was such a slap to the face. Optima was great when they wanted our money. Once we committed and signed the agreement, it became the worst experience of my wife and I's lives with a company. Absolutely horrid.

I had them do an audit of my past taxes. They came back with a very HIGH amount that I owed the IRS. In order to help me resolve my taxes, they wanted me to pay $15,000 or $1200 a month! I’m a senior citizen and live on my SS. After trying to scare me, I said NO! That’s rent money, I’m sure my husband would divorce me! Do research, my total investment would be $15,500. Don’t let them scare you. They verbally told me what I owed, without detailed written (confirmed) information. Just take their word. I don’t think so!

My initial conversation before I hired them was they would get all penalties and interest removed at the very least. SCAM! Many of your living expenses are not counted bills that you must pay. CC things like that, they charged me 1/3 of what I owed the irs and got about 500 dollars off my debt,, yet I paid them 2500! Wish to God I had known I should have just paid that 2500 to the IRS. I deserve a full refund, another person that left a review is starting a class action lawsuit. OPTIMA IS A SCAM. I'll join the lawsuit ASAP. Please save your money talk to the IRS yourself. Optima will not help you. Read others reviews.

I hired Optima Tax Relief to settle my IRS tax burden over 10 long torturous years ago. OptimaTax Relief has done nothing to resolve my case and now the IRS has revoked my passport and I am not allowed to travel outside the United States, like some kind of criminal. This has been a horrible experience that ruined my health and sanity. I am a United States Air Force veteran who sacrificed 20-plus years of my life to my country and thanks to Optima Tax Relief, my life is ruined. I have little hope for the future.

RUN do NOT walk! RUN from this company… My husband and I own our home in FL and do contract work in Alexandria VA. We sadly did not check out the VA tax laws. Coming back to the area from a CA contract we didn’t once think it would be like CA. We were wrong. 2 yrs of taxes with VA… We called Optima because they said “they could get taxes 1/2. They could avoid levies, etc…” NO! NO. They didn’t. The first time we found our wages were levied was when the state of VA robbed us of 100% of our pay check within 24 hours of paycheck. The company was not even notified at all. They just took it. After calling attorney on top of Optima we got back 75%. For 4 months they’ve been robbing us of 25% of our wages. This last paycheck they took 15% and say we still owe $6000 in penalties!? No this company has no right to be in business and the state of VA should be right there with CA! It’s disgusting.

STAY AWAY!!! I reached out to Optima tax for help with money I owe the IRS. They suck you in and convince you that they can help you with your tax situation. All they did was charge me almost $5000 to help reduce my tax burden which was more than $20,000. All Optima Tax Relief did was get me on a payment plan with the IRS for the full amount owed. So not only do I still owe the IRS over $20,000, OTR milked me for almost $5000 to basically do nothing. I could have called the IRS myself to set up a payment plan at no cost. As a Veteran, I am disappointed that there is a company like Optima Tax Relief in this country that would take advantage of my fellow Americans in such a deceitful manner. Contact the IRS on your own behalf. Don’t trust Optima Tax Relief!!!!! You will get NO RELIEF!!!!

Completely ticked off at Optima Tax Relief. The one thing I need help on and have asked for multiple times they have failed to do and is simple is to upload the data to the IRS website so I can settle my case. All they do is say they will try to get the team and then the team says they will do it and then they don't. The cost of delay is more than I have paid in fees. DO NOT USE THEM. I have also found I made more progress with the IRS on my own. Their advertisements are just lies.

Based on my experience and numerous customer reviews, I realize Optima practices is misleading and potentially harmful to individuals seeking legitimate tax assistance.

I’ve been dealing with Optima now for almost 5 years without any results, yet the IRS penalties and interest continue to accumulate. Every year I have to complete the redundant paperwork with promises to get my taxes resolved. I have filed two complaints with the BBB over the past year. I definitely would not recommend this tax service.

I called in to see how the program works. I was curious about how much it might cost. Monica mentioned that there is investigation phase to get that started is $495. But then I asked her what it cost afterwards she says there are no 2 cases alike, can’t quote me on a price. I said, "I am not looking for a quote, I get that every case is different, can you give me an idea of cost." She said no. I then said, "Is it possible that it could cost $50000 or more. I just trying to understand what I am getting myself into." She said, "I can’t tell you." Good luck with this company. You go through the investigation process to figure out you can’t afford their services. Doesn’t make sense to me.

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.

Do NOT use Optima Tax, they took $2000 from me and didn't even file my taxes. I have to file bankruptcy to help resolve my taxes. They charge way too much money. How do you call this help when they want thousands of dollars to resolve. Stay away and go with someone else