Optima Tax Relief Reviews
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About Optima Tax Relief
Founded in 2011, Optima Tax Relief is a full-service tax resolution firm for individuals and small business owners struggling with IRS or state tax burdens. The company specializes in complex cases that involve wage garnishments, bank levies, liens and other IRS collection actions. It has over 400 full-time professionals, including a team of in-house tax attorneys and licensed tax professionals.
- IRS notice analyzer
- 15-day money-back guarantee
- Wide range of tax relief services
- Convenient mobile app
- Pricing not published
- Mixed customer reviews
Featured Reviews
What is Optima Tax Relief?
Optima Tax Relief is a tax resolution firm that works with individuals and small businesses to solve tax issues. It also offers three protection plan levels for those who want tax preparation help to avoid future IRS issues. It has membership with the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) and the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP). Optima Tax Relief has offices in California and Arizona.
The company also has an app through which you can:
- File a six-month extension with the IRS for free
- Take a picture of your IRS notice and have the app analyze your risk level and explain what IRS notices mean
- Request a free tax consultation
How does Optima Tax Relief work?
To work with Optima Tax Relief, you’ll need to start with a free consultation. Once you sign up, Optima Tax Relief has a two-phase resolution program.
The first phase is when your tax professional puts out any immediate fires, such as wage garnishments or bank levies. In this phase, the Optima team contacts the relevant taxing authorities to obtain a 360-degree view of your tax issues.
In the second phase, your tax professional chooses which tax resolution approach to take. For some, this might mean an installment agreement, while others might need an attorney to do a collection appeal or to help them with audit representations.
Optima Tax Relief services
Optima Tax Relief offers a variety of tax solutions and assistance, including tax liability investigation and resolution proposals, tax preparation and compliance, and tax settlement and negotiation.
Here are a few services available for tax debt clients:
- Offer in compromise (OIC): A program that may allow eligible taxpayers to settle their tax debt for less than the full amount owed.
- Penalty abatement: A request to reduce or remove IRS penalties due to reasonable circumstances, such as illness or financial hardship.
- Installment agreement: A payment plan that lets taxpayers pay off tax debt over time instead of in one lump sum.
- Tax lien discharge: The removal of a tax lien from a specific property so it can be sold or refinanced.
- Wage garnishment release: Assistance in stopping the IRS from taking a portion of a taxpayer’s paycheck to cover unpaid taxes.
- Bank levy release: Help in removing an IRS freeze or seizure on a taxpayer’s bank account.
- Innocent spouse relief: Relief for taxpayers who should not be held responsible for a spouse’s or former spouse’s tax debt or filing errors.
- Currently not collectible: A temporary IRS status that pauses collection efforts when a taxpayer cannot afford to pay.
- Statute of limitations: Guidance related to the time limit the IRS has to collect certain tax debts.
- Collection appeal: A formal process for disputing IRS collection actions, such as liens or levies.
Optima Tax Relief costs
Optima Tax Relief does not publish pricing on its website for either tax relief services or its tax protection plans. You can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $10,000 or more for tax relief services, depending on how complicated your case is.
Costs can vary depending on the complexity of your tax situation, the total amount of debt and the types of services required. Factors like the number of tax years involved, whether enforcement actions are in place and the level of professional support needed may also impact the final price.
Optima Tax Relief FAQ
How long does Optima Tax Relief take to resolve a case?
The company says many tax debt cases are resolved within two to 12 months. However, each tax case is unique, and you will get a better idea of how long your situation will take after a consultation. The timeline varies based on the complexity of your case. More complex situations, such as audits or appeals, may take longer.
Does Optima Tax Relief offer a money-back guarantee?
While Optima Tax Relief does not guarantee any of its services, clients can request a refund within the first 15 days of service. This is only applicable to the investigation phase — it’s not for clients enrolled with an immediate action team.
Does Optima Tax Relief file taxes?
Yes, it has a full team of tax preparation professionals who can help with state and federal tax returns for both individuals and businesses. It can also help with filing overdue taxes, reducing penalties when possible.
Does Optima Tax Relief have a debt minimum?
Optima Tax Relief does not publish a tax debt minimum. Its consultation intake form allows potential clients to select a tax debt range of $0 to $9,999.
Can Optima Tax Relief reduce your tax debt?
Yes, Optima Tax Relief may be able to help reduce your tax debt depending on your situation. It offers solutions like offer in compromise, penalty abatement and installment agreements, which can lower the total amount owed or make payments more manageable.
Is Optima Tax Relief worth it?
Optima Tax Relief may be worth it for individuals or small business owners dealing with serious tax issues, especially if they’re facing IRS collection actions like wage garnishments, bank levies or tax liens.
Satisfied customers were grateful for the help they received from Optima. However, negative reviews mentioned delays, lack of communication and unfulfilled promises.
Optima Tax Relief may be a good fit if you owe a significant amount in back taxes and need professional help negotiating with the IRS, want ongoing tax preparation or prefer convenient features such as a mobile app. However, it may not be ideal if you have a simple tax filing, prefer working with people in person or are looking for a low-cost tax resolution option.
Is Optima Tax Relief legit?
Optima Tax Relief is a legitimate company with physical offices in California and Arizona. The company says it has resolved more than $3 billion in tax liabilities for clients and is licensed to represent taxpayers in all 50 states.
Optima Tax Relief also maintains memberships with professional organizations such as the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) and the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), which can help demonstrate industry involvement and professional standards.
It’s always a good idea to independently verify the credentials of any tax relief company before signing up. Consumers can search the IRS directory of federal tax return preparers with credentials and select qualifications to confirm whether a company’s enrolled agents, CPAs or attorneys are properly credentialed.
The company’s 15-day money-back guarantee may also provide some reassurance for new clients during the investigation phase of service.
Optima Tax Relief Reviews
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Reviewed May 11, 2026
We started with Optima Tax Relief in December 2020. Paid them $8,000 up front. I mean we are trying to lower this tax debt! It's 5.11.2026 and between OTR and the loser IRS, they neither one can get their act together and finish the friggin job. They keep saying they didn't get documents, so does the loser IRS. Constantly uploading POA's and they would say they didn't get it. We mailed an amended tax document and they say they didn't get it. I documented when it was mailed. Both OTR and the IRS are utterly ridiculous. This has dragged out 6 years. OMG! My head is about to explode!
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Reviewed May 6, 2026
If I could leave negative 5 stars that would be more accurate of a description of this company. They not only will cost you 5000 to drag out over a year but you’ll end up with more of a tax bill to the IRS. It’s a complete scam of a company that ended up not saving a penny, end result cost 9000 more than if I just paid the IRS directly. Do not use these scammers, they will not do anything other than take 5k and leave you with more of a debt to the IRS.
Reviewed April 20, 2026
2013 was the year we reached out to OPTIMA Tax Relief, big mistake. They started charging us in the month of April to October for consultations we never received. In October we received a letter from the IRS for a consultation about our tax situation that we never heard from OPTIMA TAX RELIEF. The IRS stated they could not converse with us as long as OPTIMA TAX RELIEF had power of attorney. Not hearing anything from Optima tax relief, we cancelled power of with them. Turns out OPTIMA TAC RELIEF charged us $10,000.00 and ended up paying the IRS $95,000.00. I did not file a complaint with BBB or consumer protection agency because they’re too big to fight. I’m not concerned about stating this now 13 years later because God has helped me through this and I still have all the documents to prove my case. God Bless you all and read the fine print.
Reviewed April 13, 2026
We contacted Optima to help resolve an IRS demand for $19,000 from an audit they conducted (we were unaware of the audit) for our 2023 return. It made no sense to us so we contacted Optima. We were told they would accept our case and they would deal with the IRS directly on our behalf. We were led to believe they would investigate the allegations and come up with an amicable resolution with the IRS. We were told we would be working with a tax professional. In four months we haven’t spoken to the same person yet and several calls the representative didn’t seem familiar with our case. We eventually heard back from Optima and they said our obligation to the IRS is now $67,000 based on my wife’s previous returns before we were married. The IRS had them in uncollectable status. We had never had any contact from the IRS regarding any outstanding debt until the December 2025 letter requesting payment of the original $19,000.
After four months we received a call they had come up with a resolution for us. Once again, we spoke to an Optima representative, who didn’t seem familiar with our case but read off the computer the resolution Optima had come up with was monthly payments of $1100 a month for 60 months to payoff the entire $67,000 they stated the IRS was requesting. Just prior to this call we received another letter from the IRS simply requesting payment of the original request + penalties amounting to just over $20,000. It appeared the IRS isn’t aware that Optima is representing us since they have never mentioned the $67,000 total. So essentially, Optima is billing us $767 a month for a year to set up payments with the IRS for the entire $67,000.
We have a modest retirement income and Optima also stated they would prepare our 2025 return. This should be a relatively simple task, but as of 4/13/26 all they’ve done so far is notify us they filed an extension. We just sent written request to Optima to terminate our service agreement. We hope this will conclude the nightmare we’re currently experiencing. We have also retained another tax consulting firm that has already provided better service and transparency while assigning us one dedicated tax professional for contact. Many reviews I’ve researched on Optima would have steered me away from them including reviews on this site.
Reviewed April 12, 2026
So I called Optima about my issue and since I was below their helping tax amount, they referred me to finish line tax and finish line. Rip me off of $1200 and didn't do nothing for me. I ended up having to do it all by myself. And now I'm stuck with more money to pay the taxes. Because finish line didn't do their job and stop the interest from adding up. So be careful with Optima Tax Relief and don't use the finish line tax relief. You'll lie to you and rip you off.
Reviewed April 8, 2026
I should have read all of the reviews before hiring Optima to help with my tax issues. I paid them over $6000 only to have to constantly bug them to get them to do anything with my case. It took almost 2 years to get a settlement that was not lowered at all by their promise to help with penalties and interest charges. Actually cost me extra for the amount of time it took to settle. In the end I would have been better off giving the IRS my $6000+ to go towards what I owed.
Reviewed April 3, 2026
Paid 500 $ to these clowns. They came back and wanted 12000 more. Wanted to set up house payments. Never found out what I owed or if I owed 500 $ for shit.
Reviewed March 27, 2026
I would highly suggest just submitting a payment arrangement request yourself!!!! This company is not going to get anything you owe reduced!!!! Just got my bad news after waiting 8 months of just collecting more penalties. They simply give them your income and subtract your monthly expenses. Then come up with a payment amount. Nothing gets reduced. So don't fall for the scam.
Reviewed March 26, 2026
They charged me over $8000 dollars and all they did was file a return and a payment plan. It was very hard to get in touch with anyone and no one explained anything about the plan so I’m now dealing with IRS myself. Biggest rip off ever and no one cared. Would never recommend these crooks to anyone.
Reviewed Feb. 25, 2026
I don't know where to start. Eight months, almost $7,000 spent. No results. Optima admitted that they have done nothing but refuse to refund me. The legal team only offered a 50% refund. This is insulting. Susan, Customer Retention Specialist stated that if I disputed the charge with my bank, "Optima will fight back with full force." It feels as if they waited until they knew it would be out the timeframe to dispute with my bank. Optima did not complete one single task for me, yet they are refusing to return my $6598!
They are a bunch of fluff! Your initial call will go great. It did feel like AI. I should've gone with my gut. I felt like I was speaking to AI, and now, I am sure that I was. Not one person has been able to tell me why I originally contacted OTR but they make sure to remind you payment is due. It's impossible to get anyone on the phone! You will continuously get the run around! Connie is a super rude tax preparer that will blame her not doing her job on you. She stated she hadn't started because she didn't have documents that were never requested from me. Her Supervisor, Cathy will never call you back. You will be assigned to a team that is never available and only call when payment is due. There was no update anytime I called. I feel like OTR are predators that prey on people that just need help.
Optima Tax Relief Company Information
- Company Name:
- Optima Tax Relief
- Website:
- optimatax.com