Optima Tax Relief Scammers - Anyone Else Taken for a Ride?

I'm a tax resolution specialist and I've unfortunately heard many similar stories about Optima and other nationwide tax relief companies. The pattern is troubling - they often charge large upfront fees for work that could be done for much less by a local tax professional. For anyone dealing with tax debt, here's what you should know: The IRS has several programs available to taxpayers including Installment Agreements, Offers in Compromise, and Currently Not Collectible status. You don't need to pay thousands just to access these programs. Most legitimate tax professionals will provide a free initial consultation and be transparent about what they can realistically accomplish. They'll also typically charge reasonable fees based on the actual work required, not a huge upfront payment. The best approach is to work with a local enrolled agent, CPA, or tax attorney who specializes in tax resolution. They can handle the same processes at a fraction of the cost and provide more personalized service.

After struggling with about $23,000 in back taxes and getting nowhere with the IRS on my own, I was seriously thinking about going with one of those big tax relief companies. Then I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it literally saved me thousands. Instead of paying some company to just file forms, taxr.ai analyzed my actual tax situation, showed me exactly what IRS programs I qualified for, and guided me through the steps to resolve everything myself. The system looked at my income, expenses, and tax history to determine what settlement options were realistic for my specific case. It was so helpful to see a clear breakdown of my options and the likelihood of success for each one instead of empty promises. The document preparation tools made it easy to submit everything properly without paying someone else thousands of dollars.

I need to apologize for being so skeptical about taxr.ai in my earlier comment. I finally tried it after spending months getting nowhere with my tax situation. The difference was night and day compared to my experience with a tax relief company that took $2,800 and literally just filed a collections hold that I could've done myself. The AI analysis immediately identified that I qualified for an Offer in Compromise based on my financial situation. It showed me exactly what documentation I needed and helped me prepare a reasonable offer based on my actual ability to pay. I just got notification that my offer of $9,200 was accepted on a $41,000 tax debt! What impressed me most was how it showed me exactly what the IRS would be looking at when evaluating my case. No false promises or vague assurances - just concrete steps based on actual IRS criteria and my specific financial situation.

If you've been burned by Optima or similar companies and need to actually talk to the IRS to resolve your issue, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS on my own after Optima messed up my case, constantly getting disconnected or waiting for hours. With Claimyr, I actually got through to a real IRS agent in about 15 minutes. They handle the hold time for you and call you back when an agent is on the line. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After finally talking directly with the IRS, I discovered Optima hadn't even submitted half the paperwork they claimed they had! The IRS agent helped me understand my actual options and I was able to set up a reasonable payment plan directly. The whole time Optima had been telling me I needed to pay them more for "advanced negotiations" when basic forms hadn't even been filed.

I owe everyone here an apology for my skeptical comment about Claimyr. After struggling for literally THREE MONTHS trying to get through to the IRS about a lien they filed after Optima dropped the ball on my case, I was desperate enough to try anything. I used Claimyr yesterday morning, and I still can't believe it actually worked. Got a callback in about 22 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent looked up my file and confirmed what I suspected - Optima had only filed one form and had done absolutely nothing else despite taking $5,700 from me. The IRS agent was actually really helpful and got me set up with a proper installment agreement based on my actual financial situation. For the first time in months, I feel like I can actually breathe. Sorry for assuming it was BS - when you've been scammed by one tax service, you get really suspicious of everything else.

My friend used Optima and had a similar experience. They charged her $6k+ and basically just put her on a payment plan she could have set up herself online for free. These companies prey on people's fear of the IRS and lack of knowledge about tax resolution options. Has anyone actually successfully sued them or reported them somewhere that took action? I told her to file complaints with the BBB and her state attorney general, but not sure if it'll help get any money back.

Has anyone tried the IRS's Fresh Start program directly? I keep hearing commercials for these tax relief companies mentioning it, but after reading this thread I'm wondering if I can just do it myself without paying someone thousands of dollars? I owe about $18k from a business that failed during COVID.

I went through almost the exact same thing with Optima Tax Relief last year. They took $4,200 from me upfront, promised to negotiate my $28,000 tax debt down to "pennies on the dollar," and after 8 months all they had done was file a power of attorney and request some basic forms. The worst part was how they kept asking for more money at every step. First it was the initial "investigation fee," then they wanted another $2,500 for "advanced negotiations," and when I refused they basically stopped working on my case entirely. I ended up firing them and going directly to the IRS myself. Turns out I qualified for a simple installment agreement that took me 20 minutes to set up online. No negotiation needed - just basic paperwork. I'm now paying $380/month instead of the $800+ they claimed was my only option. These companies absolutely prey on people who are already stressed about tax problems. They make the IRS seem scarier than it actually is and vastly overcharge for services you can often handle yourself. I'm definitely interested in joining any class action lawsuit - we need to stop them from taking advantage of more people.

I'm so sorry you're going through this - it sounds incredibly frustrating and unfortunately all too common with these large tax relief companies. The pattern you're describing with Optima is exactly what consumer protection agencies have been warning about for years. A few things that might help: First, document everything - save all emails, contracts, and records of payments you made to them. If they promised specific results or timelines, make note of those too. This documentation will be crucial if you do pursue legal action. Second, you might want to contact your state's attorney general office and file a complaint. While individual complaints don't always result in immediate action, they do build a case file that can lead to investigations if enough people report similar experiences. For your actual tax problem, as others have mentioned, you likely have options available directly through the IRS that don't require expensive intermediaries. The IRS website has a lot of helpful information about payment plans, offers in compromise, and other relief programs. As for organizing legal action, you might want to reach out to consumer protection attorneys in your area who handle class action suits. Many will provide free consultations to evaluate whether you have a viable case. The fact that you and others are reporting such similar experiences suggests there might be grounds for action. Hang in there - you're not alone in this, and there are legitimate paths forward to resolve both your tax issues and potentially recover what you paid to Optima.