Has anyone used Optima Tax Relief before? Need real experiences.

I've worked with clients who've used various tax relief companies including Optima. Here's what you should know - these companies can help in some situations, but they're not magic solutions. First, understand that most of what these companies do are things you can technically do yourself (installment agreements, offers in compromise, etc). What you're paying for is their expertise in navigating IRS procedures and negotiation skills. Optima and similar companies typically do a decent job for straightforward cases, but their fees can be substantial. They usually charge an upfront investigation fee ($1000-2000) followed by resolution fees ($3000-7000) depending on case complexity. Before hiring anyone, I'd recommend calling the IRS directly to understand your options. Many people don't realize the IRS has its own programs for taxpayers facing hardship.

I used taxr.ai when I was trying to understand my options for dealing with back taxes. I was in a similar position - considering Optima but wasn't sure if they were worth it. I uploaded my tax documents to https://taxr.ai and the analysis showed I actually qualified for an IRS payment plan that I could set up myself without paying thousands to a tax relief company. The system broke down exactly what I qualified for based on my specific tax situation and showed me which forms to file. Saved me from making an expensive mistake!

Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after posting here and WOW. It was so much more helpful than I expected! I uploaded my tax notices and it immediately identified that I qualified for a First-Time Penalty Abatement that would remove about $1,200 in penalties. None of the tax relief companies I called even mentioned this option to me. I followed the step-by-step instructions to file the abatement request myself and got approved last week! Then set up a payment plan for the remaining balance directly with the IRS. Saved thousands in fees and resolved everything in about 3 weeks.

If you need to actually speak with someone at the IRS (which can be nearly impossible these days), try https://claimyr.com - they have a service that holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you when an agent is about to answer. I spent DAYS trying to get through to discuss my payment options before discovering them. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Made a huge difference because I finally got to speak with someone who explained all my options without trying to sell me services I didn't need.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I tried the Claimyr service and it actually worked. After posting my skeptical comment last week, I decided to give it a shot since nothing else was working. Got a call back in about 47 minutes (after previously spending hours on hold multiple times). The IRS agent I spoke with was surprisingly helpful and walked me through setting up a payment plan that works with my budget. No big fees, no middleman taking a cut - just direct resolution with the IRS. I was 100% wrong about this being a scam.

I used Optima about 2 years ago and had a pretty bad experience. They charged me $4,000 upfront, then kept delaying and saying they were "working on my case." After 6 months, all they did was set up a simple payment plan that I could have done myself for free on the IRS website. Total waste of money. I should have just called the IRS directly.

For what it's worth, my cousin used Optima and had a positive experience, but he owed over $65,000 and had some complicated issues with unfiled returns for several years. They got his penalties removed and negotiated his total debt down significantly. So maybe they're better for more complex cases? The simpler your situation, the less value they probably provide.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the key is figuring out if your situation is complex enough to justify the fees. I'm dealing with about $12,000 in back taxes from 2021-2022, but it's pretty straightforward - just didn't have enough withheld due to some freelance work. After reading through all these responses, I think I'm going to try the DIY approach first. Going to check out that taxr.ai tool to see what options I actually qualify for, and if I need to talk to the IRS directly, I'll use the Claimyr service to avoid sitting on hold all day. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences - both good and bad. It's exactly what I needed to hear before potentially spending thousands on something I might be able to handle myself. Will update if I learn anything useful along the way!