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

How do we actually find these local tax pros though? When I search online all I see are ads for these big companies. And how do we know the local person isn't just as scammy but on a smaller scale?

The best way to find a reputable local tax professional is to ask for recommendations from friends, family, or other business owners who've had tax issues. The IRS website also has a directory of enrolled agents you can search by location. Professional organizations like the National Association of Enrolled Agents or your state's CPA society are good resources too. To avoid scams, look for professionals who are transparent about their fees and don't make unrealistic promises about tax debt reduction. Legitimate professionals will explain the actual IRS programs available to you and what you might qualify for based on your specific situation. They won't guarantee specific results before thoroughly reviewing your case.

Does it work for businesses too or just personal tax issues? I have an S-corp with about 45k in payroll tax problems and these relief companies keep calling me.

I'm skeptical because it sounds like you're just promoting another service... how is this different from all the other companies promising to fix tax problems? What's the catch here?

It definitely works for business tax issues including payroll tax problems. The system has specific modules for different business structures including S-corps, and payroll tax resolution is actually one of their specialties. It analyzes the unique qualification factors for business installment agreements and trust fund recovery penalty situations. There's a big difference between this and tax relief companies. This isn't a service where people charge you thousands to file forms - it's an AI system that analyzes your specific situation and guides you through the process yourself. The catch with those big companies is they often just file the same forms you could file yourself while charging massive fees. This just gives you the tools and guidance to handle it directly with the IRS, cutting out the middleman entirely.

Wait how does this actually work? Do they have some special line to the IRS or something? I don't understand how they can get you through faster than calling yourself.

This sounds like complete BS to me. There's no way to "skip the line" with the IRS. They're probably just recording your personal info or something sketchy. Has anyone actually verified this works?

They don't have a special line, but they use an automated system that keeps calling and navigating the IRS phone tree until it gets through. Once an agent answers, it connects you. It's basically doing exactly what you'd do manually, but with technology that can keep trying when humans would give up. I was definitely skeptical too at first. But after being unable to get through for weeks on my own, I was desperate. I watched their demo video first which shows how it works. The service only asks for your phone number to call you back when an agent is on the line - they don't need or ask for any personal tax information. I was actually connected to an IRS representative who helped me sort through the mess Optima had created. Nothing sketchy about it - they're just solving the very real problem of not being able to reach the IRS by phone.

I filed complaints with BBB, my state attorney general AND the FTC after they took me for $3800. BBB was useless (they responded with some BS and BBB marked it resolved). Still waiting to hear from AG and FTC but not holding my breath. The contract they make you sign has all these clauses protecting them. We really need that class action lawsuit the original poster mentioned.

That's exactly what I was afraid of. These companies are slick with their contracts and know exactly how to operate in that grey area. The BBB is pretty much useless for anything beyond basic customer service issues - they have no actual regulatory power. I wonder if enough people filed complaints with state attorneys general if they might take notice. I've seen cases where AGs have gone after companies for unfair business practices, but it usually takes a lot of complaints and evidence of systematic issues. A class action lawsuit might be the only real recourse, but finding a lawyer willing to take it on could be tough.

I did! The "Fresh Start Program" isn't actually a single program - it's a collection of existing IRS options that were expanded a while back. I was able to get on an installment agreement directly through the IRS website for my $14k tax debt. Took about 45 minutes to complete the application. They approved it automatically since it was under $25k.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know. I had no idea you could set up payment plans directly through their website. These tax relief companies make it sound like you need their "expert negotiation skills" to get any kind of relief. I'm going to try doing it myself this weekend. $18k feels overwhelming but knowing others have been able to set up reasonable payment plans directly gives me hope. These commercials really prey on people's fears.

Your story sounds almost identical to what I'm going through right now! I'm in month 7 with Optima after paying them $3,900 upfront, and they keep giving me the runaround about needing more documentation or more time. Reading all these experiences makes me realize I need to cut my losses and handle this directly with the IRS. Can you share more details about how you set up the installment agreement yourself? Did you need any special forms or just go through their website? I owe about $31,000 and they've been telling me my only options are either pay the full amount or let them negotiate for thousands more in fees. I'm definitely interested in joining a class action too - this seems like a clear pattern of deceptive practices targeting vulnerable people.

I went through the IRS website (irs.gov) and used their Online Payment Agreement application. For debts over $25k like yours, you'll need to provide some financial information, but it's still much simpler than these companies make it seem. You'll need Form 433-F (Collection Information Statement) which shows your income, expenses, and assets. The IRS uses this to determine what you can afford to pay monthly. In my case, they accepted a payment plan based on what I could realistically afford, not some arbitrary amount these tax relief companies quote. The key is being honest about your financial situation. The IRS isn't trying to destroy you - they just want to get paid. Most of the time they're very reasonable about setting up payment plans that work for both parties. Don't let Optima string you along any longer. Fire them and handle it directly. You'll save thousands and probably get a better result than anything they could negotiate for you.

I had a very similar experience with the installment agreement process! For debts under $50,000, you can usually set up a payment plan directly through the IRS website at irs.gov. Look for the "Online Payment Agreement" tool - it's pretty straightforward. You'll need your Social Security number, the tax periods you owe for, and the total amount owed. The system will calculate a monthly payment based on your balance and let you choose the payment date and method. For amounts like yours ($31,000), they typically approve these automatically without requiring detailed financial information. The whole process took me maybe 30 minutes, and I got instant approval. No negotiation, no back-and-forth, no thousands in fees - just a simple monthly payment plan. Optima had been making it sound like this required complex legal work when it's really just basic paperwork. Definitely cut your losses and do this yourself. You've already paid them way too much for essentially nothing. Save the documentation of what little they've actually done for you - that could be useful evidence if we can get a class action going.

I set up my installment agreement directly through the IRS Online Payment Agreement application on their website (irs.gov). For debts under $50,000, you can usually get automatically approved if you meet certain criteria - no missed filings in the last 5 years and you haven't defaulted on a previous agreement. The application asks for basic financial information and calculates a monthly payment based on the balance and terms you choose (up to 72 months for amounts over $25k). I didn't need any special forms beyond what's built into their online system. The whole process was surprisingly straightforward compared to what Optima made it sound like. You should definitely fire them now before they waste more of your time and try to extract more fees. With $31k you'll likely qualify for the same online process. Save yourself thousands and handle it directly - the IRS is actually much more reasonable to work with than these companies make them seem. And yes, we absolutely need to organize some kind of legal action against these predatory practices. They're systematically deceiving people about what they can actually accomplish.

@Carter Holmes I went through the exact same runaround! For the installment agreement, I just went directly to the IRS website irs.gov (and) used their Online Payment Agreement application. You ll'need your Social Security number, the tax periods you owe for, and the amount owed for each period. The process was surprisingly straightforward - you enter your financial information and it calculates what payment amount you can afford. For amounts under $50,000, they usually approve it automatically if your proposed payment will pay off the debt within 72 months. There s'a small setup fee around ($31 if you do automatic withdrawals but) that s'it. The key thing I learned is that the IRS actually wants to work with you - they d'rather get paid over time than not at all. These companies make it seem like you need some complex negotiation when often you just need basic payment arrangements. Don t'let Optima string you along any longer - you can probably resolve this yourself in less than an hour online.

@Carter Holmes The installment agreement was surprisingly straightforward! I went to irs.gov and used their Online Payment Agreement tool. Since I owed under $50k, I qualified for their streamlined process. You just need to provide basic financial information - income, expenses, bank account details for automatic payments. The system automatically calculated what I could afford based on my income and necessary expenses. No negotiation required - it s'all based on IRS formulas. The whole application took maybe 30 minutes and I got approved instantly. The key thing I learned is that the IRS actually WANTS to collect the money, so they re'usually reasonable about payment plans if you can show you re'making a good faith effort. These companies like Optima make it sound like the IRS is some impossible enemy that needs to be negotiated "with when" really they just want their money in a way that works for both parties. Fire Optima now and save yourself more wasted time and money. You can revoke their power of attorney by sending a simple letter to the IRS, then handle it yourself. Don t'let them keep stringing you along!

I went through the IRS website and used their Online Payment Agreement application. For debts over $25k like yours, you'll need to provide some financial information (income, expenses, assets), but it's much more straightforward than these companies make it seem. The key is being honest about your financial situation. The IRS actually wants to collect what you owe and will work with you on reasonable payment terms. I had to provide bank statements and proof of income, but the whole process took maybe 2-3 hours spread over a couple days. You can find the application by searching "IRS installment agreement" on their website. If your situation is more complex, you might need Form 9465, but for most people the online tool works fine. The IRS was way more reasonable to deal with directly than Optima ever was - no high-pressure tactics or constant upselling. Cut your losses now and handle it yourself. These companies bank on people being too intimidated to deal with the IRS directly, but in reality the IRS just wants their money and will help you figure out a realistic payment plan.

I had a very similar experience with a different tax relief company and ended up doing exactly what NeonNebula suggested - handling it directly with the IRS. For installment agreements, if you owe less than $50,000 you can often get automatic approval through the IRS Online Payment Agreement tool on their website (irs.gov). You'll need your Social Security number, filing information from your most recent tax return, and bank account details if you want to set up direct debit. The IRS actually has pretty reasonable payment plan options - they just don't advertise them like these relief companies do. For $31,000, you'd likely qualify for a payment plan of around $400-500 per month depending on your financial situation. No "negotiation" required, just filling out the application honestly. The key thing these companies don't tell you is that the IRS would much rather work with you on a payment plan than deal with collections. They're not the scary boogeyman these companies make them out to be. Save yourself the thousands in fees and go direct - worst case scenario, you're in the same position you'd be in after paying Optima, but with a lot more money in your pocket.

I can definitely help you with the installment agreement process! For debts over $25,000 like yours, you'll need to use IRS Form 9465 (Installment Agreement Request) instead of the online application. You can download it from the IRS website and mail it in with Form 433-F (Collection Information Statement) which shows your financial situation. The IRS typically approves these if your proposed payment amount will pay off the debt within 72 months and covers the minimum required payment based on your balance. For $31,000, that would be around $430-450/month depending on penalties and interest. The key is being realistic about what you can actually afford - don't let them pressure you into payments you can't sustain. The IRS is actually pretty reasonable to work with directly, despite what these tax relief companies want you to believe. Definitely cut ties with Optima now before they ask for more money. I wish I had done it sooner and saved myself months of stress and false hope.

Oliver, I'm so glad you found this thread before making what could have been a very costly mistake! Your situation with $15K in freelance tax debt is exactly the kind these companies love to target - they know self-employed people often feel overwhelmed dealing with tax issues on their own. Based on everything I've read here, you're absolutely making the right choice to go directly to the IRS. It sounds like most of these cases could have been resolved much faster and cheaper without these middleman companies. The pattern of behavior described here is definitely concerning and suggests systematic deception rather than just poor service. I'd encourage you to start by checking out the IRS website's payment plan options - several people mentioned being able to set up installment agreements online pretty easily. And if you do need to call them, that Claimyr service others mentioned might help you actually get through to talk to someone. It's really encouraging to see people sharing their experiences so openly here. These companies clearly rely on people being too embarrassed or isolated to compare notes about what really happened to them.