Optima Tax Relief Reviews

I paid Optima Tax Relief $2790.00 to negotiate my 2018 taxes down, but they did not make a single attempt. If your a poor sucker like me and signed on without reviewing the testimonials

1. stop paying them and CANCEL the service, it wont get any better

2. revoke the POA form you sent them by going online and getting a form

3.find a REAL tax lawyer who is IN YOUR STATE

I paid Optima Tax Relief $2790.00 to negotiate my 2018 taxes downbut they did not make a single attempt.

Professional rip off artists from the word GO. Quick to Expedite getting money from you. Once you pay them their money your fate is in the wind. They do NOT follow through on their cases and become very vague when you call your case workers with legitimate questions regarding problems with the IRS. An IRS case worker told me that the IRS had heard NOTHING from Optima Tax relief regarding my past tax problems in almost two years while my case worker continually lead me to believe they were working on my case. When confronted about the non-action in my case Optima threatened continually dropping me on the spot They need to change their name to OPTIMAL CON ARTISTS! I demand a full refund from these money grubbers.

My mother paid $5000. to these people only to hear them say “SUC-KER”

The $499 up front was the hook! After that nothing was good. It took them 2 weeks just to contact the IRS. Then they told me there was an additional $14k fee for them to continue to represent me. I asked if they had negotiated any reduction in my owed tax...figuring if the reduction was substantial it would be worth it. They didn't even start negotiations, but wanted the $14k up front. They offered to finance it over 12 months, but the payments we over $1,200 a month, not counting what my payments were going to be to the IRS. When I told them that was not possible, they dropped me.

At first it did not look like Optima tax relief can help me but after talking to several representative everything turns out to be okay problem solved

Pay them $2,500 and still have a tax liability I could have set up a payment plan myself they just take your money and lie to you and do nothing

Terrible. Optima charged me $5000. They promised a reduction for my taxes. All I got was a payment plan. I could have done this myself. Total rip off company. I needed that money. I am going to as many review sites as possible for reviews. Bloodsuckers that take advantage of your problems.

REASONS TO AVOID TAX RELIEF COMPANIES:

(The below is "8 reasons" is as cited by [REAL] tax professionals @ "WATAX" website; And, you can also see on their website the 91 "tax relief" companies SHUT DOWN because of their scam, unethical, illegal, and poor business practices! ! ! )

1.] These SCAM companies charge ridiculous, HIGH fees. If a tax resolution company is going to charge you $3,000 or more for representation, you deserve the red carpet treatment. You should have direct access to your licensed tax professional and/or have the customer service rep who does your up-front analysis to be with you to the end. (If you're interested, we wrote more about what $4,000 of tax resolution should buy you.);

2.] Many tax resolution companies have a tendency to whack you with new fees once you're on board with them, figuring you're more or less locked in. (We wrote more about this phenomenon too, about why reopening fees are problematic.);

3.] They give BAD advice. Plainly and simply, many tax resolution companies will advise you to do the wrong thing;

4.] They give DISHONEST advice (i.e. lying). The oldest trick in the tax resolution sales book is to tell someone that they'll qualify for an Offer in Compromise ("OIC") to settle their tax debt when they clearly do not qualify. It's human nature: people just love to hear that they will settle their debts—just like in the commercials! Shady salespeople love to scratch this itch for profit;

FYI: YOU can file YOUR OWN "OIC" (IRS Form # 656), but it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY you'll get such "compromise" as statistics show the IRS RARELY offer such.

You can file your own "EXTENSION" (IRS Form # 1127 - "Application for Extension of Time for Payment of Tax Due to Undue Hardship"), which is all these SCAM "TAX RELIEF" companies do anyway, charging you fees in EXCESS of $1,000s & $1,000s - with many consumers reporting being SCAMMED / CHARGED upwards of the $4,000-$7,000 ranges).

If you owe back taxes, there are several IRS tax relief programs to help, including the IRS "FRESH START INITIATIVE":

An "Installment Agreement" is generally available to people who can't pay their tax debt in full at one time. The program allows people to make smaller monthly payments until the entire debt is satisfied.

Under its "FRESH START INITIATIVE", the IRS raised the threshold for streamlined installment agreements from $25,000 to $50,000 in tax debt, and the maximum repayment term from five to six years. Taxpayers who owe less than $50,000 may apply online with the IRS and don’t have to complete an IRS "Collection Information Statement" (Form # 433-A, Form # 433-B or Form # 433-F).

An Offer in Compromise ("OIC") lets taxpayers permanently settle their tax debt for less than the amount they owe. The OIC is an important tool to help people in limited circumstances; taxpayers are eligible only after other payment options have been exhausted.

Under its "FRESH START INITIATIVE", the IRS expanded the "OIC" program to cover a larger group of struggling taxpayers. However, the IRS will not accept an offer if it believes the liability can be paid in full as a lump sum or through an installment agreement. The IRS offers guidance on choosing a tax professional for an OIC on its website.

5.] Misstating urgency and scare tactics. Tax resolution sales people and telemarketers harass those with tax liens, they're notorious for telling you that the sky is falling if you don't hire them immediately. "Your case has reached 'Elevated Status!" barks one company to its prospective clients, cold calling tax liens. Tax relief companies will often manipulate your emotions to make the sale. There's no reason to fake urgency. An honest tax professional should lay out all of the options for you without emotion or scare tactics;

6.] Employee turnover. Whether big or small, tax resolution companies are notorious for having high employee turnover. As many of the companies are reliant on "salespeople," employees who can't sell enough cases are fired. Hence, your case keeps getting handed off from representative to representative. In these environments, the institutional memory of your case can deteriorate fairly easily;

7.] Dropping the ball. Keeping your client out of aggressive collection actions like levies and garnishments requires constant vigilance and a very delicate personal touch. Large companies are famous for cases falling into the cracks and subsequently, clients getting nailed with levies from the IRS.

Going out of business. Running an effective tax resolution business requires a unique blend of great customer service with excellent marketing; and

8.] Going out of business. Running an effective tax resolution business requires a unique blend of great customer service with excellent marketing. Take one of those two elements away and you're out of business! Again, see "WATAX" website that lists THE 91 TAX SCAM COMPANIES ALREADY SHUT DOWN!

AS STATED BY THE FTC - - Problems with Tax Relief Companies:

1.] Promise that you will get relief from tax liabilities;

2.] Misrepresent how long it will take to process a debt relief request application; and/or

3.] Omit relevant asset information on financial statements submitted to the IRS.

ALSO STATED BY THE FTC:

"Tax relief companies use the radio, television and the internet to advertise help for taxpayers in distress. If you pay them an upfront fee, which can be thousands of dollars, these companies claim they can reduce or even eliminate your tax debts and stop back-tax collection by applying for legitimate IRS hardship programs. The truth is that most taxpayers don't qualify for the programs these fraudsters hawk, their companies don't settle the tax debt, and in many cases don't even send the necessary paperwork to the IRS requesting participation in the programs that were mentioned. Adding insult to injury, some of these companies don't provide refunds, and leave people even further in debt.

Some taxpayers who filed complaints with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that, after signing up with some of these companies and paying thousands of dollars in upfront fees, the companies took even more of their money by making unauthorized charges to their credit cards or withdrawals from their bank accounts.

If you owe back taxes and don't know how you're going to pay the debt, the FTC, the nation's consumer protection agency, says don't panic, take a deep breath, and consider your options. If you are having trouble paying bills, it's often better to try to work out a payment plan with the creditor yourself than to pay someone else to negotiate a plan for you. The same is true when you owe money to the IRS or your state comptroller."

don't go here they will rip you off take your money and do nothing

Good group of folks trying to help out the taxpayer! We all know the IRS could care less about struggling citizens of this country. Now we have help! Thank you Optima Tax.

After >$6K in 'fees' i have the same tax problem i started with! From the beginning i asked "can you remove the IRS tax penalties" from my transcript? They said they could.. guess what they could not, and did not reduce any of my tax liability (all due to a clerical error). They took my money, and did nothing for me!! I could have set up a payment plan.. They should have issued me a refund and just let me know they could do nothing for me..

they just scam me of almost $7.000 and they did nothing for my debt this are criminals something need to be done about them do not trust them they will take your money

Optima was one of several firms I contacted to address what, for me, was a substantial and insurmountable tax debt with the IRS. I didn't have to think too hard in choosing which company to hire as Optima's representatives were extremely knowledgeable, professional, and forthcoming about a streamlined process they utilize to guide their clients through the debt resolution process. I always felt I was in good hands and able to speak with a representative any time I had a question and, ultimately, my debt was settled for less than 3 percent of what I owed. Optima's fees were also considerably lower than their major competitors. I hope I never need the services of a tax lawyer again but if I do, I will contact Optima.

Its not worth it. Optima charges an arm and a leg for something that can be done anywhere else for a fraction of the cost.

After hiring them, it became clear that their basic function wasn't to get tax relief for their clients, but rather it was to generate a large revenue while hiding behind excuses and requests for records they had no desire to work on. After giving them almost $8900.00 and my 2015 personal and business expenses, there still has been no progress on my file. Most of their correspondence seems to center on more money to pay them. Their contract for $21,000 to handle our case is a waste of paper and effort on my part.

Please, for the sake of all that is mighty in heaven, stay way from Optima Tax Relief. Their only relief is to your bank account.

I owed the federal government over $14,000 for the 2014 tax year. Therefore, I acquired Optima Tax Relief services and explained my problem with them. Afterwards, they gave me a plan and steps I needed to follow. I did as they told me and submitted all the necessary paperwork. As a result, I no longer owe the IRS that sum of money and I am free from the stress related to my taxes. Thank you very much!

My name is Caprice and I had a substantial debt with the IRS. Optima was able to get the debt reduced from $27,000 down to $420. This is quiet a relief for me as now I will be able to pay this amount and clear my record. Thank you Optima

I had an such an awesome experience with Optima Tax Relief that I would like to share with everyone. I had a 22,000.00 IRS debt and was looking at a wage garnishment as well as a hold on my bank accounts. I called Optima and the minute someone answered the phone they made me feel that everything was going to be OK. They sent me the paperwork i needed and we began our process together to reduce my 22,000.00 debt to the IRS to 100.00. There never was any stress and the whole process took less than one year. I am now debt free to the IRS.

Thank you Optima Tax Relief

I was initially skeptical, and dodged Optima Tax Relief. I asked questions over and over, and was leery about giving them my credit card information over the phone. After, Optima Tax Relief asked me to come visit their office and meet with them, I then felt at ease.

I signed up with Optima Tax Relief over the phoneand I did not regret it. They informed clearly of the possible outcome for a delinquent $10,000 amount I owed to IRS.

In about 5-6 months time, Optima Tax Relief, through Power Of Attorney gathered all required tax papers from me, communicated with the IRS on my behalf, brought all my tax paperwork up to date, and at the end, they constructed a Settlement with the IRS for $50.00 because of my hardship.

I highly recommend Optima Tax Relief to anyone who is in the same position that I found myself in.......YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT.

A.Silva

Corona, CA