Optima Tax Relief Review

The Basics

Optima Tax Relief is a house-hold name for tax relief. Founded in 2010 in Southern California, Optima has been providing tax relief for Americans for almost a decade. According to their BBB, they also conduct business under the names Tax Relief Partners and Optima Tax Express, but we have found their name linked to companies such as Spectrum Tax Relief and others.

Number of In-House Tax Experts

According to their website, Optima employs 6 tax attorneys and 6 enrolled agents, but does not advertise any CPAs on staff. An attempt to request this information was rejected.

Success Rate

Optima Tax Relief has a strong success-record and notable public image. They are ranked the #1 Financial Services company by Inc. Magazine and named an “Official Top Workplace Honoree” by the Orange County Register. Their success is matched by a 15-Day Money-Back Guarantee. While a money-back guarantee is enticing, it should be noted the 15 days is rarely enough time to evaluate a company’s performance of a tax case.

Customer Experience

Optima boasts an A+ rating on the BBB, but similarly to other large companies, there are several complaints filed against them. The majority of these claims seem to be from clients who are unhappy with the deal that Optima negotiated with the IRS on their behalf. Optima casts a large net when gathering their prospective clients, but not everyone is eligible for the IRS Fresh Start Program. While Optima is a first-class service, they can’t change the IRS Fresh Start Program rules and regulations.

Overall

Optima Tax Relief is one of the top companies for a reason. They have saved people millions throughout their almost decade-long history. However, don’t get sucked in by the promise of a potential offer in compromise. Remember, OIC’s are hard to qualify for and do not apply to everyone. Do your research to see what you may be eligible for before getting on a sales call with Optima.