Optima Tax Relief Review
- Minimum debt
- $10,000
- Typical turnaround
- 6 to 12 months
- Fees
- The investigation phase costs $295 for most cases but can be $495 for more complex ones. Other costs fall between $1,500 to $50,000 depending on the amount of time that goes into them.
- Other details
- 15-day money back guarantee. Applies to fee paid toward the initial investigation phase.
Our verdict
Personalized support to negotiate back taxes of $10,000 or more owed to the IRS or state.
Optima Tax Relief offers a free consultation to get started. If you meet the requirements, your tax situation is reviewed by a team of reputable experts. Negotiations are handled by tax attorneys, CPAs and enrolled agents to get you the best outcome. The company’s strengths lie in its diverse range of tax professionals and tax relief services.
Best for: People with over $10,000 in debt, undergoing financial hardship that can meet settlement payments.
Pros
-
Can serve customers in all 50 states
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Money-back guarantee on investigation phase
Cons
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Must owe at least $10,000 to the state
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Only takes care of tax relief, not other debts
What makes Optima Tax Relief shine?
Optima Tax Relief stands out due to its variety of services such as audit representation, innocent spouse relief, state tax relief as well as payroll tax relief among others. The company’s staff is also experienced and includes not just tax attorneys but CPAs and enrolled agents. The company also holds high ratings on Trustpilot, with customers citing helpful and understanding associates.
Where Optima Tax Relief falls short
Unlike companies like Jackson Hewitt, Optima Tax Relief charges for the investigation of your tax case. And, you need a minimum of $10,000 in tax debt to access its debt relief services. Be sure to compare the best tax relief companies before choosing the final company you want to work with.
How much can I save?
It ultimately depends on your situation. However, based on customer reviews, customers have saved upward of $80,000. One client review reported a tax debt of $87,000 reduced to $100. Another reported a tax refund slashed nearly in half from $13,658 to $7,666. However, these are case-specific scenarios versus average numbers.
How much does it cost?
The investigation phase usually costs $295 but more complex cases can cost $495, according to an Optima Tax Relief customer service representative. At the minimum, additional costs for resolution can range from $1,500 to even as high as $50K, depending on how much debt you have and how much time goes into your case.
Will Optima Tax Relief hurt my credit?
No, it will not hurt your credit score. For your tax settlement, Optima Tax Relief may file an Offer in Compromise. This is an agreement between you and the IRS, which allows you to settle your taxes for less than the amount owed. In this agreement, Optima Tax Relief may file liens with your submission. This means taking into account the value of assets such as your home to show trustworthiness.
Optima Tax Relief details
Here’s a high-level overview of key factors that may help you decide if Optima Tax Relief is right for you.
| Free quote or consultation | Yes |
| Services | Tax Relief, Tax Resolution, Tax Preparation, Tax Settlement, Tax Audit |
| Minimum Debt | $10,000 |
| Average turnaround | 6 to 12 months |
| Fees | The investigation phase costs $295 for most cases but can be $495 for more complex ones. Other costs fall between $1,500 to $50,000 depending on the amount of time that goes into them. |
| Types of debt | Tax-related debt |
| Accreditations | IRS Power of Attorney (50 States), National Association of Enrolled Agents, A Rated by Business Consumer Alliance, IRS Continuing Education Provider |
| Direct or third-party negotiations | Direct negotiations |
| State availability | Available in all states |
How to qualify for Optima Tax Relief
To qualify for Optima Tax Relief, make sure you meet certain requirements.
- At least $10,000 in tax debt
- Have a copy of your IRS notice, income documents, invoices and bank statements
- US citizen
How the tax settlement process works
Here are five steps in how Optima’s Tax Relief process works:
- Schedule a free consultation by calling 800-536-0734.
- Work with your advisor to determine if you qualify for one of the IRS’s tax settlement programs.
- Work with Optima to submit the appropriate forms.
- Pay off the settlement in one lump sum or separate payments if approved.
- Uphold the remainder of the agreement.
How Optima Tax Relief compares to other lenders
What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 6+ types of personal loans across 50+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
Optima Tax Relief reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | Yes |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer reviews | 4.91 out of 5 stars, based on 236 customer reviews |
| Trustpilot Score | 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on 8,954 customer reviews. |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 23 January 2024 |
Customers give positive feedback about its free consultation, transparent pricing, and investigation refund guarantee. The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, but some customers complain about advertising and sales issues and unresolved customer complaints.
Is Optima Tax Relief legit?
Optima Tax Relief is a legitimate company with an online presence, physical office and visible executive team. The company is accredited by the BBB and, in addition to thousands of customer reviews, has also had over 96 TV commercials aired.
However, the company is currently involved in a class action lawsuit, which alleges misconduct, negligence and violation of consumer laws.
Debt settlement risks
While debt settlement can help in many situations, it comes with its risks:
- Increased costs. Debt settlement can cost you additional fees and interest.
- Negotiation problems. Creditors are known to reject some settlement offers, which may delay your debt resolution.
- You could end up with more debt. With fees and interest that continue to accrue, if debt settlement doesn’t work for you, you could end up owing more than you started with.
Frequently asked questions
What else can Optima Tax Relief help me with?
Optima Tax Relief offers a full range of tax services, including help with audits, tax levies and liens, wage garnishment, penalties and interest. It can also prepare your annual taxes.
Does Optima Tax Relief handle only federal taxes?
No. Optima Tax Relief is licensed to work with what you owe to both the IRS and your state.
Where is Optima Tax Relief located?
Optima Tax Relief is based in Santa Ana, California.
Dhara Finder
Writer
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johnbasanes Finder
February 25, 2019
Hi Senyah,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
Tax relief services provide a great avenue in ensuring that all your options are available for you before filing and that tax experts would be assisting you in getting the most of your tax year as well as back taxes. They provide consultation as well as solutions that you could use in filing for your back taxes so you would not miss any details required in filing. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
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Senyah
February 25, 2019
I have several years of open tax years. Is it wise that I start with a tax relief service?