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Optima Tax Relief Review

As the largest tax resolution firm in the country, Optima Tax Relief works to achieve optimal outcomes for its clients, and it strives to minimize the stress and anxiety associated with tax collection. With over $1 billion of debt managed inception-to-date, Optima Tax Relief may be able to help you pay off your tax debts, as well.

Optima Tax Relief Review
Optima Tax Relief
4.3
Available nationwide
Available nationwide
Free tax relief consultation
Free tax relief consultation
Minimum tax debt of $10,000
Minimum tax debt of $10,000
Money back guarantee
15-day money-back guarantee
Thomas Brock
Written by:Thomas Brock
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Reviewed by: Sarah Brooks, Personal Finance Writer and Editor

If you’re falling behind on your tax payments, you may be looking into tax relief as an option to consolidate and pay off your tax debts. Tax relief can help you sort through your tax audits, negotiate a payment agreement with the IRS, stop wage garnishments, and help get you out of tax debt faster. Ranked as one of the best tax relief companies of 2022, Optima Tax Relief is one of the best tax relief options out there.

Editor’s Note:

Fundamentally, tax relief companies negotiate with the IRS and other taxing authorities on your behalf – for a fee. Reputable companies can help you achieve economic outcomes in a transparent manner, but unfortunately, the tax relief industry does have its share of bad players. As a result, it’s critical to be comfortable with a tax relief firm and the services it offers before proceeding with an engagement.

This guide can help you understand the services and solutions, cost and fees, customer experience, trustworthiness and stability and user reviews associated with Optima Tax Relief.

Summarized Rating

Services and Solutions4
Costs and Fees4.3
Customer Experience5
Trustworthiness and Stability3.7
User Reviews4.4

This parameter considers service offering breadth, geographic reach, and minimum debt level requirements. Each of these features was evaluated using the five-point scoring system. Then, the various scores were aggregated and averaged to establish an overall services and solutions score. 

Optima gets an above average 4.0 for Services and Solutions. This reflects its diverse service offering, extensive geographic footprint, and standard minimum debt requirement.

What is Optima Tax Relief?

Founded in 2011, Optima Tax Relief has managed over $1 billion in tax debt for its clients. In the process, it has helped thousands of Americans resolve their IRS and state tax issues. The firm is based in California, but its experienced team of professionals maintain a national footprint and are positioned to help with almost any individual tax issue. 

Optima Tax Relief offers a wide range of services to assist you, including a free tax consultation, tax liability investigation and resolution proposal, tax preparation and compliance, and tax settlement and negotiation. If you’re not sure what service would best suit your needs, reach out for a free consultation for an experienced Tax Team member to assist you.

Optima Tax Relief Pros and Cons

If you’re considering working with Optima Tax Relief to help settle your tax debts, it’s best to consider the pros and cons before making a decision.

Optima Tax Relief Pros
100% free consultation
Diverse service offerings
Available in every state
Transparent fee structure
Money-back guarantee
Excellent customer service
Optima Tax Relief Cons
Fees can be high
$10,000 minimum tax debt required

Services Offered By Optima Tax Relief

Optima Tax Relief focuses on providing personalized tax relief solutions to its clients. This includes tax consultation, tax resolution, and tax settlement and negotiation. Across this vast offering, Optima Tax Relief helps its clients in a number of ways, including those outlined below. 

  • Files extensions and appeals
  • Assists with tax audits
  • Stops wage garnishments, levies, and liens
  • Secures innocent spouse, disaster, and pandemic relief
  • Establishes installment plans
  • Reduces tax debts, penalties, and interest

Optima also offers tax preparation and compliance services to its clients. This entails completing tax forms required by the IRS and/or state tax authorities. 

Optima Tax Relief Services and Solutions

When it comes to services and solutions, Optima Tax Relief has a very strong rating. It’s underpinned by a diverse offering of solutions, a broad geographic reach, a fairly standard minimum debt requirement, and transparent, realistic marketing concerning the “average time for relief” and “average relief amount” metrics. Details are below.

Extent of Geographic Presence

Nationwide

Minimum Debt Requirement

$10,000

Average Time for Relief

Two to six months, on average

Average Relief Amount

Each case is unique

Note:

Any tax relief company that accentuates “average time for relief” and/or “average relief amount” on its website warrants skepticism. Averages do not provide a meaningful indication of what you can expect, given the highly personalized nature of tax relief. Moreover, a tax relief firm cannot influence these metrics, beyond legal allowances. Exaggerated claims are misleading, at best, and illegal, at worst.

Optima Tax Relief Process

Optima Tax Relief markets its services as a two-phase process, which consists of an investigation phase (two to four weeks) and a resolution phase (three to nine months). The investigation phase entails getting fully acclimated with a client, evaluating all options, establishing a tax relief strategy and, potentially, contacting the pertinent tax authorities. The resolution phase entails implementing the relief strategy and dealing with downstream compliance.

The Optima Tax Relief process consists of the following sequential steps:

  1. Free Tax Consultation – Upon contacting Optima, you will speak with a qualified tax professional who will assess your options. The consultation is free and confidential.
  2. Tax Liability Investigation and Resolution Proposal – Following the free consultation, you will have the option of proceeding to the investigation phase. It entails an extensive assessment of the specifics of your case, followed by a proposal designed to optimize your situation.
  3. Tax Settlement and Negotiation – Acceptance of the proposal activates your tax resolution strategy. At this stage, Optima’s team will present your case to the appropriate tax authority and position you to achieve the best possible financial outcome legally permitted. Along the way, you will be kept informed of all communications and developments.

Optima Tax Relief Costs and Fees

It’s difficult to compare the costs and fees of one tax relief company to the next, largely due to the highly personalized nature of the services provided. Optima differentiates itself with a transparent fee structure that underpins a well-defined process.

For each customer, it quotes a contingent flat fee that leaves some room for unexpected tax resolution efforts. This is reasonable and highly competitive. Optima does not levy any other charges, and it offers a very lenient money-back guarantee that allows you to back out if you change your mind. Highlights are illustrated below.

Fee Structure

Contingent flat fee

Other Charges

None

Money-back Guarantee/Refund Policies

Yes, 15-day money-back guarantee

Optima Tax Relief Customer Experience

Optima Tax Relief checks all of the boxes on the customer experience front. It boasts a best-in-class 5.0 rating due to the following factors:

  • Its website is well-organized, highly informative, and easy to navigate.
  • The firm offers expanded call center support, with accessibility to a live team member Monday through Saturday.
  • Optima further enhances its accessibility with multi-channel support. In addition to the telephone, the firm actively communicates with new and potential clients via email, social media platforms, and its proprietary client portal. 
  • With regard to supplemental information and tools, Optima Tax Relief does not disappoint. Its website is loaded with tax news, helpful videos, blog posts, FAQs, and other informative guides.
  • To round out its offering, Optima recently introduced the Optima Tax APP. This slick, mobile tool differentiates Optima from its peers and allows users to make sense of IRS notices, file free tax extensions, and connect with Optima’s award-winning team of tax professionals.

Optima Tax Relief Trustworthiness and Stability

Optima Tax Relief scores highly when it comes to trustworthiness and stability. This is largely attributable to its long business history and industry-leading level of tax debt management experience. However, membership in only one key industry association is a slight drag on its rating. Key attributes are summarized below.

Years in Business

12 years

Customers Serviced Inception-to-date

Information is not available

Tax Debt Managed Inception-to-date

$1+ billion

Memberships in Industry-leading Associations

Optima is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), which enables it to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the IRS

Optima Tax Relief User Reviews

Based on reviews from Trustpilot (over 2,800), Best Company (over 1,800) and ConsumerAffairs (over 150), Optima Tax Relief is generally highly rated by its users (aggregate rating of 4.4 out of 5.0). Many cite the high degree of trustworthiness and professionalism exhibited by Optima. They also value the transparent and organized way the firm handles its cases. A sampling of recent comments is provided below.

Amanda

5.0 Trustpilot Rating in September 2022

Robert was knowledgeable and HELPFUL. Walked me through every question/concern. These teams will find the answer if they don't have the answer! Great working with someone who cares! Thanks!

Fernando Morales

5.0 Trustpilot Rating in August 2022

I spoke with Elizabeth who was handling my case. She was one of the most empathetic persons who I have dealt with on the other side of a phone call in a very long time. I felt as though my case was the only one on her desk. In tough times like these, it's crucial to be able to depend on dependable people.

Complaints of Optima Tax Relief center around the company not resolving their tax debts and poor customer service. As with any debt relief company, it’s always best to look at your unique situation, read the fine print, and make an informed decision as to whether or not they will be able to assist you.

Optima Tax Relief Compared to Other Companies

A quick comparison of Optima Tax Relief and two well-known competitors, Precision Tax Relief and Anthem Tax Services, is provided below. Incidentally, Optima and Precision share the designation of best overall tax relief company. Each was assigned an impressive aggregate score of 4.3 out of 5.0 by finimpact.com.


Optima Tax Relief

Precision Tax Relief

Anthem Tax Services


Extent of Geographic Presence

Nationwide

Unclear whether it services the entire U.S.

Nationwide

Minimum Debt Requirement

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

Fee Structure

Optima quotes a contingent flat fee; it’s reasonable and highly competitive

Precision quotes an all-inclusive flat fee; it’s the most transparent approach in the market

Information is not available

Money-back Guarantee/Refund Policies

Optima offers a stellar 15-day money-back guarantee

Precision offers a top-tier 30-day money-back guarantee

Anthem offers a best-in-class, virtually, unlimited money-back guarantee

Final Thoughts

All things considered, Optima Tax Relief is an excellent option for anyone looking for assistance in resolving a complex tax collection issue. The firm has a nationwide footprint and maintains a well-defined process and a client-focused mode of operation. Its unwavering professionalism and transparency are evidenced by its best-in-class rating (4.3 out of 5.0). If you want a reputable tax relief company with extensive experience, look no further than Optima Tax Relief.

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Thomas Brock

Written by: Thomas Brock

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Accounting, Corporate Finance, Debt, Economics, Financial Planning, General Business, Insurance, Life Insurance

More about me
Sarah Brooks

Reviewed by: Sarah Brooks

Personal Finance Writer and Editor

Sarah Brooks is a personal finance writer and editor with more than 10 years of experience. She specializes in personal and business loans, mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

More about me