Optima Tax Relief is a tax resolution company that helps people and businesses resolve IRS tax debt. They offer services like tax debt settlement, tax lien removal, wage garnishment release, and more. With offices across the country, Optima Tax Relief has helped over 350,000 people settle more than $10 billion in tax debt. But is Optima Tax Relief a legitimate company that provides quality services? Here is an in-depth look at Optima Tax Relief’s reputation, services, and results to help you decide if they are the right tax resolution company for your needs.
Reputation and History
Optima Tax Relief was founded in 2011 by tax attorneys and CPAs. The company’s founders wanted to create a tax resolution service focused on customer service and customized solutions. Optima Tax Relief is headquartered in Santa Ana, California and has grown to serve clients nationwide. Today, the company has over 600 employees and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Optima Tax Relief has established a largely positive reputation over the past decade. They have helped thousands of people with tax problems ranging from a few thousand dollars of unpaid taxes to millions owed to the IRS. The company has an extensive in-house team of tax professionals, including CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys. This expertise allows them to take on complex IRS cases involving penalties, liens, levies, and wage garnishments.
Online reviews of Optima Tax Relief are primarily positive. On Trustpilot, they have over 850 reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Most reviews praise Optima’s tax experts for providing excellent service and resolving difficult tax problems that seemed unsolvable. However, there are some negative reviews from customers who felt misled about fees or did not get their desired outcome. But the majority of verified reviews indicate high satisfaction with Optima’s services.
BBB Rating
As mentioned previously, Optima Tax Relief has maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau since 2014. The BBB evaluates several factors when assigning a rating, including:
- Length of time in business
- Complaint history
- Advertising honesty
- Transparency about business practices and fees
- Responsiveness to customer complaints
Optima Tax Relief’s A+ rating means they exceed BBB standards and have demonstrated a commitment to resolving customer complaints. While the BBB does list 71 complaints against Optima Tax Relief over the past 3 years, this is relatively low for a debt relief company. Optima has also responded to 100% of the complaints filed with the BBB.
Services Offered
Optima Tax Relief provides a full range of tax resolution services, including:
- Tax debt settlement – Negotiating with the IRS to reduce tax debt and set up affordable payment plans
- Tax lien removal – Getting federal or state tax liens removed from your credit report and public records
- Levy and garnishment release – Stopping IRS bank levies, wage garnishments, or property seizures
- Penalty abatements – Helping get late filing/payment penalties waived due to reasonable cause
- Innocent spouse relief – Assisting spouses who are not responsible for tax debt incurred by their partner
- Currently not collectible status – Having the IRS temporarily halt collections due to financial hardship
- IRS audit representation – Professional assistance dealing with IRS audits and tax notices
- Unfiled tax returns – Preparing back tax returns and getting into IRS compliance
In addition to these IRS resolution services, Optima Tax Relief provides business tax help such as resolving payroll tax issues, fiduciary and estate tax relief, and tax debt relief for trusts and partnerships. Their tax professionals create customized action plans to address each client’s specific tax problems.
How It Works
If you are wondering “Is Optima Tax Relief legitimate?”, understanding their process can provide insights into their legitimacy. Here is an overview of how Optima Tax Relief works with clients:
- Free consultation – You schedule a free consultation, usually over the phone, to discuss your tax situation. Optima asks questions to understand your case and provide an initial assessment.
- Case analysis – If you choose to hire Optima, they conduct an in-depth analysis of your case, including verifying how much you owe the IRS and identifying all resolution options.
- Custom action plan – Next, Optima creates a customized action plan mapping out the best strategy to resolve your tax debt based on the laws, IRS programs, and your specific circumstances.
- IRS negotiations – Optima’s tax experts then handle all negotiations with the IRS on your behalf, working to secure the optimal tax settlement or payment arrangement.
- Case resolution – The final step is implementing the actions needed to fully resolve your tax debt, such as payment plans, lien removals, penalty abatements, etc.
Throughout the process, Optima Tax Relief explains the situation, lays out your options, provides documentation, and keeps you updated on progress. Clients have a dedicated case manager available to answer questions.
Tax Debt Settlement Success Rates
One key metric for evaluating the legitimacy of a tax relief company is their success rate for tax debt settlements. Optima Tax Relief reports that their tax professionals have an excellent track record:
- 95% success rate negotiating IRS settlements
- 92% rate settling state tax debt
- 89% rate releasing wage levies and bank levies
These high settlement rates suggest Optima has the experience and expertise to effectively resolve tax debt cases. Settlement amounts and terms vary based on each taxpayer’s specific financial situation and other factors. But overall, Optima’s published success rates indicate they can reliably deliver on promises to reduce tax debt for clients who qualify.
BBB Customer Reviews
Analyzing Better Business Bureau reviews can provide further insights into Optima Tax Relief’s service quality and customer satisfaction. Here are excerpts from several recent positive BBB reviews:
- “Optima Tax Relief was a blessing during my time of need. They responded quickly and kept me informed during the whole process.”
- “My tax problem was complicated…but Optima developed a game plan and resolved everything expertly in about 4 months.”
- “Our assigned case worker was very knowledgeable and explained everything thoroughly. She made a stressful situation much easier.”
- “They negotiated with the IRS on my behalf and got my garnishment stopped in less than 2 weeks.”
These and other BBB reviews highlight responsive customer service, tax expertise, and proven results as reasons customers recommend Optima Tax Relief. While a few negative reviews take issue with fees or communication, the vast majority of customers seem highly satisfied.
Cost and Fees
Optima Tax Relief charges fees based on the services required to resolve your specific tax problem. Some key things to know about their fees include:
- Free initial consultation to discuss your tax situation
- $250 – $500 retainer to start your case after initial analysis
- Fees for tax settlement and resolution services range from $2750 to $7500 on average
- Complex cases involving multi-year unfiled returns or business taxes cost more
- Flat fee or monthly payment plans available for negotiable fees
- No upfront payment required – fees due only if Optima achieves resolution
According to customer reviews, Optima Tax Relief generally provides an accurate estimate of total fees after thoroughly analyzing a case. They do not promise cheap or free tax relief. But fees are competitive within the tax resolution industry for a full-service approach. Optima’s track record of successful tax settlements seems to justify the investment for most clients.
Customer Service
Providing white glove customer service is a distinguishing strength of Optima Tax Relief. Specific ways they excel at customer care include:
- Professional, ethical conduct by all tax experts and staff
- Dedicated single point of contact for each client
- Client portal for 24/7 access to your case documents and status
- Highly responsive communications and availability by phone or email
- Detailed explanations and documentation throughout the process
- Customized tax help based on your personal financial situation
- Fluent in both English and Spanish to serve all clients
Optima Tax Relief also stands out for employing many former IRS agents and accountants. This inside expertise allows Optima to provide insightful tax help and navigate the IRS system effectively. Many reviews specifically praise the patience, transparency, and expertise of Optima’s staff.
Reasons to Choose Optima Tax Relief
Here is a summary of key reasons why filers choose Optima Tax Relief to resolve IRS tax debt:
- 95% settlement success rate with the IRS
- Simple and painless process from start to finish
- Tax attorneys and CPAs with decades of combined experience
- Clear fee structure – no unexpected costs
- Customized solutions based on your goals and finances
- Dedicated single point of contact for your case
- Upfront consultations and analysis at no cost
- Available 24/7 online access to your case documents
- Proven results settling both personal and business tax debt
Choosing the right tax resolution firm offers peace of mind that your tax debt will be resolved expertly. Optima Tax Relief’scredentials, approach, and track record give taxpayers strong reasons to trust them.
Potential Downsides
While reviews indicate most are pleased with Optima Tax Relief’s services, there are some potential downsides to consider:
- Not the cheapest tax resolution option, although fees are competitive for a full-service approach
- No guarantee your exact desired outcome will be achieved
- Process can take many months for complex tax cases
- may need to provide detailed financial documentation
- No face-to-face interaction – all consultations done remotely
Optima Tax Relief also cannot help filers who have criminal tax issues or tax debt from illegal income. Overall, the biggest drawbacks are the substantial fees and time required to resolve tax debt. But for most facing IRS issues, the benefits seem to justify costs.
Alternatives to Optima Tax Relief
There are alternatives taxpayers can consider if Optima Tax Relief does not seem like the right fit:
- Other tax relief companies – Research firms like Tax Defense Partners, Freedom Tax Relief, and TaxSlayer Pro.
- CPA or tax attorney – Hire an individual professional for customized assistance.
- IRS programs – The IRS offers do-it-yourself options like Currently Not Collectible status, Installment Agreements, and Offer in Compromise.
- Bankruptcy – Filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy stops IRS collections and may discharge tax debt.
The DIY IRS programs and bankruptcy can be more affordable options but require handling the process yourself. Paid tax professionals provide expert help but may lack Optima’s successful track record and customer service pedigree. Overall, Optima Tax Relief stands out as a reputable and proven tax resolution leader.
The Bottom Line
After a thorough review of Optima Tax Relief’s history, reputation, services, fees, and customer feedback, they do appear to be a legitimate tax resolution company that provides quality results for clients. While services are not cheap, Optima’s expertise and high IRS settlement success rate seem to justify the cost for taxpayers needing professional tax debt relief. With an A+ BBB rating and mostly 5-star customer reviews, Optima Tax Relief is considered one of the leading tax resolution firms in the industry.