Optima Tax Relief is a reputable tax relief company that can help you manage your tax debt. If you owe $10,000 or above in federal and/or state taxes and you have no idea what to do, Optima Tax can help you make the right decision and pursue it effectively.
Optima Tax Relief
Optima Tax Relief provides quality tax relief services. Though starting costs are high, their customer satisfaction rates are enviable.
Pros
Personalized Negotiations
Great Customer Service
15-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Their Client Bill Of Rights
Tax Attorneys On Staff
Available Nationwide
Cons
Costs Start At $295.00
You Must Owe At Least $10,000
About Tax Relief Companies
You don’t want to owe money to the IRS. They can come after you in ways that no other creditor can. They can garnish your wages and seize your assets without a court order. Unlike civil debts, you can go to jail for not paying taxes. You can almost never discharge tax debt in bankruptcy.
Despite these sanctions, Americans owed over $133 billion in unpaid taxes and accumulated penalties and interest in 2021. If you’re one of them, you may be desperately seeking tax relief.
Fortunately, the IRS is willing to make a deal. They offer a number of tax relief options. Unfortunately, the criteria for these options are complex, and the paperwork can be daunting. This is where tax relief companies can help.
Tax relief companies have earned a shady reputation. Many of them overpromise and fail to deliver. Quite a few people have paid substantial sums and been left with no relief at all. There are still some legitimate companies that provide a high level of service. Optima Tax Relief is one of them.
🏆 View our roundup of the best tax relief companies for 2023 with expert reviews and comparisons.
👉 Important note: No tax relief company can make tax debt go away. No tax relief company has secret connections in the IRS that will get you a special deal. Tax relief companies will pursue the same tax relief methods that you’ll use if you do it yourself: payment plans, offers in compromise, “currently not collectible” status, Innocent Spouse Relief, and similar programs. The difference is that a quality tax relief company will help you choose the right option, use every available option, and get your paperwork right. If a tax relief company promises that it can make tax debt vanish, you’re probably being scammed.
Who Is Optima Tax Relief?
Optima Tax Relief is a tax resolution company based in Santa Ana, California. It was founded by Harry Langenberg and Jesse Stockwell in 2011.
The founders met each other while attending Wharton Business School. They currently have 300 employees, including CPAs and tax attorneys.
Optima Tax Relief provides a number of services.
- Reduce tax debts.
- Stop garnishments, levies, and liens.
- Assist with tax audits.
- Assist with tax preparation.
- Handles both federal and state taxes.
👉 The firm is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ BBB rating. They operate in all 50 states.
How Does Optima Tax Relief Work
Here are the key features of the Optima Tax Relief service:
- Free consultation via an online form.
- Initial costs start at $295.00
- $10,000 minimum debt required.
- 2 to 6 months turn around time.
- Available in all 50 States.
- 15-day money-back guarantee for the initial investigation phase.
If you decide to retain Optima Tax Relief you’ll have access to a personalized client portal where you can monitor the progress and developments of your case.
Optima’s Four-Step Process For Tax Relief
Optima has a four-step process for getting you free from tax debt:
Free consultation is a key step in the tax relief process. An Optima Tax representative will review your situation with you, explain your options, and help you decide whether a tax relief company is your best option. Many companies treat a free consultation as a sales pitch. Optima does not.
📅 You can schedule the free consultation by filling in the form on their website or by calling (800) 536-0734.
If you choose to retain Optima’s services you’ll proceed to the investigation phase. Optima will focus on contacting the IRS, freezing any ongoing collection efforts, and developing a strategy to resolve your tax debt.
In the resolution phase, Optima will pursue the selected resolution strategy. This will fit one of the tax relief options offered by the IRS: like every other tax relief company, Optima works within the framework set by IRS rules.
Resolution may involve a payment plan or an attempt to reduce your arrears, but this will always involve following one of the options offered by the IRS.
Optima Tax Relief Client Bill Of Rights
Optima’s Client Bill Of Rights defines their relationships with customers.
Optima makes a real effort to live up to those promises, which is why they get such high scores on customer service.
How Much Does Optima Tax Relief Cost?
The cost range for the tax relief portion of Optima’s services is going to run between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on your specific needs.
The initial fee for the investigation phase will be $295.00. You’ll have to pay this in full before Optima will take your case. You can have this fee refunded during a 15-day window.
During this phase, Optima will determine what steps need to be taken to get you the best deal. When the investigation is complete, Optima will give you a final quote based on the amount of work required.
Once the quote is paid in full, they will take on your case.
Resolution fees will range from $750 to $5,000, depending on the complexity and requirements of your case. The average case will cost around $3,000.
👉 Read our article on the Cost of Optima Tax Relief for a more detailed breakdown of fees and cost analysis.
Remember, the initial consultation is 100% FREE. Talk to a tax expert to see if Optima is the right choice for you.
How Much Could I Save with Optima Tax Relief?
There’s no consistent or assured amount that you can save. In some cases, the resolution may simply be an affordable installment plan. Your savings will depend on your specific situation.
👉 Optima has helped some customers save tens of thousands of dollars or sometimes even receive a refund.
Your situation will be unique and you should try to get the best possible results for yourself; not the results that someone else received.
Optima Tax Relief Customer Reviews
Looking at Optima Tax Relief reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot will give you some good indicators of the quality of this company.
They have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 2,924 reviews on Trustpilot and have an A+ rating with the BBB with an average rating of 4.36 out of 5 stars from over 2,000 Customer reviews.
We read hundreds of reviews from Yelp, BBB, and Glassdoor to answer one question: Is Optima Tax Relief legit? Find out what their customers think.
Optima Tax Relief Pros & Cons
In our experience, there’s a lot of good and bad when it comes to tax debt relief. Optima Tax Relief is no different.
PROS
- They handle all the paperwork
- Great customer service
- Money-back guarantee
CONS
- $295 initial fee
- Must owe at least $10,000
- No assurance that your tax bill will be reduced
Read our article on the Pros & Cons of Optima Tax Relief for a more detailed breakdown and analysis.
Optima Tax Relief’s Other Services
Optima Tax Relief doesn’t just handle tax relief. They provide a range of other tax-related services.
Tax Consultation
This service is offered to customers facing an IRS or state collection action.
This consultation is more than just 1 simple phone call and gives you access to a team of consultants, attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs.
👉 A tax consultation can provide you with the guidance and representation you need to get through a collection action with as little damage as possible.
Tax Negotiation
The team at Optima is known for its skills in negotiating with the IRS. They have licensed professionals that specialize in helping you resolve your tax dilemmas.
Depending on your financial situation and how much you owe, you might be able to set up a payment plan or even debt reduction.
Tax Preparation
Optima Tax has a team of tax preparers, CPAs, and attorneys ready to assist with your tax preparation needs.
Tax Resolution
Optima Tax Relief provides experience-based tax resolution advice. They will offer guidance and representation needed to get through the IRS resolution process.
These are some of the tax resolution problems and solutions that Optima can help you address:
- Audit Representation
- Criminal Tax Defense
- Currently Not Collectible
- Dealing with the IRS
- Innocent Spouse Relief
- Installment Plans
- IRS Tax Discharge
- IRS Tax Expiration
- Levy Release
- Offer In Compromise
- Payroll Tax Debt Relief
- Penalty Abatement
- State Tax Issues
- Stop Wage Garnishment
- Tax Lien Removal
- Tax Preparation and Planning
- IRS Tax Expiration
- Unfiled Tax Returns
If you have any questions about the IRS collection process or would like more information about how Optima can help with your IRS tax problems, get a consultation today.
Can I Cancel Optima Tax?
We know that Optima has a 15 Day money-back guarantee; but how does it actually work?
Let’s break down the guarantee disclaimer.
Guarantee Disclaimer
Optima Tax Relief, LLC (“OTR”) will refund monies paid under the OTR Client Agreement within the first 15 calendar days without any penalty or obligation.
This money-back guarantee ONLY applies to the fee paid towards the Investigation Phase and NOT for those enrolled with our Immediate Action Team or those that have executed a Resolution Phase Addendum.
We do not guarantee that your tax debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage nor do we make any guarantees or promises about the outcome of the proposed services.
Essentially, you have 15 days to cancel and ask for a refund and you can only get back your $295.00. If you decide to move forward with Optima after the Investigation Phase, trying to cancel would be pointless.
Optima Tax Relief Alternatives
We selected these alternatives to Optima Tax based on a number of criteria. We looked for companies that offer free consultations, have been in business for at least five years, and had no complaints filed with the FTC. We also looked at the types of services offered, their costs and customer satisfaction.
Here’s how Optima Tax Relief compares to the other options available.
| Free consultation | Money back guarantee | BBB rating | Types of tax debt | |
| Optima Tax Relief | Yes | 15-day | A+ | IRS and state |
| Anthem Tax Services | Yes | No limit | A+ | IRS and state |
| Community Tax | Yes | 14-day | A+ | IRS and state |
| Precision Tax Services | Yes | 30-day | A+ | IRS |
| Tax Defense Network | Yes | 3-day | A+ | IRS and state |
Taking Action On Your Tax Debt
If you owe money to the IRS, there is absolutely no reason to wait around. The IRS will not go away! Whether you decide to use a tax relief company or to take on the task yourself, it’s important to start immediately.
If you do decide to consult a tax relief company, Optima Tax Relief has the experience, expertise, and track record to help you resolve both federal and state tax issues.
Get in touch with Optima Tax Relief for your 100% FREE consultation today!
