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Complaint Details
Note that complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. See details.
Initial Complaint
01/11/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
We had a professional tax person who didnt actually file our timely return and we didnt know about it until 1-2 years later. They then went out of business. We contacted Optima to help us take care of this and start a payment plan- paid them $4282.20 in July 2024 for this service and they will not call us back in what to do next. They keep saying that they are expediting it to the tax professionals but this has been the same line at least 5 times in the last 2 months. We are getting threatening letters from *** and we still cant get them to respond to us. We dont know what to do.
Business response
01/16/2025
Optima Tax had already been in discussions with the client to address the concerns stated in their complaint.Customer response
01/16/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
Regards,
****** ******
Initial Complaint
01/03/2025
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I have call recordings, emails, and all else needed to prove I was lied to and deceived by your Optima Tax Relief multiple times and was wrongly charged $10,000. I sent them an email with the opportunity to make it right, with a sample call recording so they knew I wasnt lying, and I never heard back from them.Gave Optima ************** ********* a call and sent ALL info DEC 2022 Recorded multiple calls with Optima Sales **** ALL stating that credit card debt is factored into your negotiations etc. with the *** I made clear I was in credit card debt $85,000, with a $2800 monthly payment I made clear I made high 6 figure income I made clear ALL TAX RETURNS WERE FILED and gave them ALL INFO NEEDED **** made it clear that I was a likely candidate for many of the *** debt reduction programs and that Optima would handle the negotiations Dragged my case out over **************************************************** and forwarded to *** DID NOT complete or submit any tax returns for me Lied multiple times in multiple calls saying *** considered any and all credit card debt I received several notifications that Optima was preparing all my back tax returns (*********) and they would let me know the next steps. I called multiple times to let them know that I had already done ******* the end, all Optima did for me was fill out my financials and tell me that I did not qualify for any kind of negotiation and that I owed the full amount due to my income etc.We are talking about a combination of less than 3 hours of work here. I could have done this all on my own for free. To everyone who reads this, OPTIMA TAX RELIEF IS A TOTAL SCAM. ALL REVIEWS ARE FAKE.Business response
01/09/2025
At Optima Tax we strive to uphold the philosophy that clients come first and all of our representatives go through rigorous training to assure we abide by that philosophy. We take all complaints very seriously, and we do our best to turn them around when possible. We are reviewing the clients file and will soon reach out to the client to address their concerns.Initial Complaint
12/28/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Contracted Optima tax relief in April of this year to help me with my tax issues. Paid them $6000 .After months of sending them documents, their only solution was just pay the *** what you owe them and set up a payment plan. So I called them back and told them what my options were. They told me they were going to attempt to put me in a non collectible status with the *** and see what else they could do to maybe get an offer in compromise or see what other solutions were available. After months of not hearing anything back, I called them again to get an update on my account and the agent seemed completely lost but told me that they were going back-and-forth in contact with the *** and assured me everything was fine.Well, after not hearing anything again for a month or two, I received a letter in the mail from the *** stating that it was my final notice to pay my balance in full due to me, ignoring them, and ignoring their notices. Optima tax relief assured me throughout the whole process that they were in contact with the *** and even had me sign power of attorney letters so they can speak to the *** on my behalf, but nothing was done. My bank accounts are about to be levied due to the negligence of this company and on top of that paying $6000 to be told dissolution is pay your balance is insane. They cant get away with basically robbing somebody of $6000 do not do business with them.Business response
01/03/2025
At Optima Tax we strive to uphold the philosophy that clients come first and all of our representatives go through rigorous training to assure we abide by that philosophy. We take all complaints very seriously, and we do our best to turn them around when possible. We are reviewing the clients file and will soon reach out to the client to address their concerns.Initial Complaint
12/27/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Paid $11,000 and received a bunch of promises. There was no reduction, only one tax return was done by them which my own *** did already. And then, when I mentioned it on the phone, a standard, "we looked at what we could". What a waste of $$$ - I could have had a local CPA do that for less than half. At the end Optima did not reduce a single dollar from a 140K tax burden.Business response
01/03/2025
Optima ************** will reach out to the client to address the concerns stated in their complaint. Optima Tax will continue to reach out to the client and will maintain open lines of communication until a mutual agreement is reached.
At Optima Tax we strive to uphold the philosophy that clients come first and all of our representatives go through rigorous training to assure we abide by that philosophy. We take all complaints very seriously, and we do our best to turn them around when possible.Initial Complaint
12/27/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I paid Optima Tax Relief $9290 to help me with a tax debt to ***. I submitted all the forms they asked for. They emailed me and stated they had not received all requested information and was stopping the process. I called and advised all information had been provided but would submit again. They indicated the documents would need to be provided by a certain date, which I did. However, they apparently did not process any of the information i provided. I called them multiple times to inquire as to the status after submitting the second time. No response was ever received from Optima ************* Later I called Optima again and advised them I had paid over $9000 and had not gotten any response or solution. They offered a refund of $899; however nothing was ever received. Had i known Optima was not going to do anything to help me, I could have paid the $9290 to the *** to lower my debt.Business response
01/02/2025
Optima Tax regrets that we were unable to reach a mutually agreeable resolution in this matter. Our courtesy offer will remain on the table should the client wish to accept.Initial Complaint
12/27/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I hired Optima tax relieve to help me resolved IRS tax issues. Optima tax relieve charged me close to 10,000$With a monthly direct deposit of 809$ monthly. A portal site created for me to send documents. I sent almost all documents that were required. Optima tax relieve asked me to send documents that was impossible for me to find furthermore optima tax relieve didnt get in contact with IRS it was all a scam. Monthly payments 4/16/2024-pay809$5/6/2024-pay-809$6/16/2024-pay809$7/16/2024-pay809$8/16/2024-pay809$10/16/2024pay809$11/16/2024pay-809$I was told by Optima tax relieve personel that I was going to get only 809$ reimbursement . Please help.Business response
01/02/2025
Optima Tax had already been in discussion with the client. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a mutual agreement.Initial Complaint
12/24/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I reached out to Optima for help after receiving an *** bill for ******; in reference to my 2021 federal taxes. They claimed they could help and began charging me monthly. After paying them over *****, they finally promised to resolve my issue. I then received an *** statement for ****** and thought Optima was helping. Next, I didnt hear from them, but thought they were working on my case.Come to find out, they werent helping and I received a new *** statement for ******. After finally speaking to an Optima representative, they informed me that the person initially working on my case was no longer with ******* the time they helped me work out a payment plan, I not only owe the *** more than initially, but I paid them. My total debt plus their fees amounted to ******.Business response
12/30/2024
Optima Tax had already been in discussions with the client to address the concerns stated in their complaint. At this time, we are working with the client towards a mutually satisfactory resolution.Initial Complaint
12/18/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
Unsuccessful In January of 2020, my husband and I contracted Optima for a tax resolution. Then the insanity began. There was little contact from them. Calling is a complete joke. Someone who knows nothing (at all) would answer (if the call was answered). Our cost was $8185 for a solution. I was unemployed due to injuries and broken bones from an accident. I was under strict orders from my doctor, if I wanted to heal and be able to walk again, I needed to sit still. So I did. Thats when we reached out for help. I was hired in August 2020, which helped, but almost all of the payments had been made. We had a case manager (the first of many) who was clueless. Each time its was we need more documents from you I gave them everything the asked for. In January 2021, I was advised that the tax professional was talking to an RO from the ***. Why our case was escalated with the **** we still do not know. Our income was vastly lower than people who have an RO assigned to us. This went on for 2 years. They waited so long, that my case was in collections and when its in collections, you cannot make a payment plan with the ***. Our wages were garnished (without any word from Optima). The *** was taking 1/2 of my husbands income. So now we are in another holding pattern. Finally, with more pressure from the ***, we stopped using them (as if they did anything at all anyway) In July 2024, 4.5 years after we had paid fully. I have emails and voicemails to back up everything and more, so I do not want to hear We tried to help. We want our money back or we will take this further. I dont want a scripted apology, I want our money back so we can pay the IRS.There is so much more that would make your toenails curl, but I dont want to waste one more minute of my time on Optima. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY, THEY LIE AND DO NOT PRODUCE SOLUTIONS.4.5 years and nothing, just more trouble with the ***, no solution. $8185 no solution=FULL REFUND posting on every platform.Business response
12/30/2024
At Optima Tax we strive to uphold the philosophy that clients come first and all of our representatives go through rigorous training to assure we abide by that philosophy. We take all complaints very seriously, and we do our best to turn them around when possible. We are reviewing the clients file and will soon reach out to the client to address their concerns.Customer response
12/30/2024
An agent called and basically begged me to sign a new POA, as we have retained an actual tax lawyer who negated our POA with Optima. Prior to retaining the legit tax lawyer, I, myself, called the ** LISTED ON OUR CASE. I explained that our case seemed like it was being used to train new **s. The actual ** released the lien and lifted the garnishments within 24 hours. I did that after Optima just kept telling me Your case manager is on the phone with your ** right now. Bold faced lies over and over from plebeians with no US tax backgrounds.
I told the agent 4.5 years ago we paid in full our fees to Optima. Why on earth would we let them take over our case again as our debt when we began was $45,000it is now $95,000. Four years will do that. The agent apologized over and over and begged us to sign the new POA. I told her she would have to show me a detailed plan on how they would accomplish a settlement with an acceptable and realistic solution.
all she did was send a request for us to sign a new POAno plan accompanied it. We are tired of being bullied and ignored. We are victims of lies and thievery. Optima, your agents lied to us, stole our money, (that could have gone to **** taxes), and left us out to fend for ourselves after we fully paid upfront. 5-12 months is what you lied about. We want our money back; NOT A SCRIPTED FAKE APOLOGY DEFENDED YOUR LACK OF DUE DILIGENCE! ALL OF ITBusiness response
01/09/2025
Optima Tax had already been in discussions with the client to address the concerns stated in their complaint.Customer response
01/10/2025
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me. I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
Regards,
***** ******
Initial Complaint
12/15/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I contacted Optima tax relief and 4 months later I have no changes in my tax situation.Business response
12/23/2024
Optima Tax had already been in discussions with the client to address the concerns stated in their complaint.Initial Complaint
12/12/2024
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
From what I can gather, no action was taken from this company. I still owe the full amount to the IRS, yet they took approximately $4,300 from me. I could have simply given the $4,300 directly to the government and arranged my own payment plan. I was told from a representative the company would handle the late fees, but that did not happen. I suspected this would be a scam, and now it seems my fears were justified. I deserve to have my money returned so I can pay the IRS directly.Business response
12/18/2024
At Optima Tax we strive to uphold the philosophy that “clients come first” and all of our representatives go through rigorous training to assure we abide by that philosophy. We take all complaints very seriously, and we do our best to turn them around when possible. We are reviewing the client’s file and will soon reach out to the client to address their concerns. The client is scheduled to speak with Optima Tax management on 12/26.Customer response
12/18/2024
I think they need to add to their response.. They should include, "We strive to take money from people, even when providing NO service."Business response
12/27/2024
Optima Tax management has reached out to the client. At this time, we are still working with the client towards a mutual agreement. We have recently attempted to reach out to the client on 12/23, but was not able to touch base. All lines of communication remain open until an agreement is reached.Customer response
01/01/2025
"Their statement, 'We have recently attempted to reach out to the client on 12/23 but were not able to touch base,' is inaccurate.
I spoke with Alejandro (apologies for any misspelling) at 12:00 PM EST on 12/23 for approximately 21 minutes. I then called him back the same day at 4:46 PM EST for approximately 7 minutes. Despite these conversations, no ethical settlement was reached—they offered me only $400.
I am extremely dissatisfied with the so-called work or service they claim to have provided. They charged me $4,290 to amend a tax return, yet I was the one who set up the payment arrangement with the IRS, not them. I feel like I have been robbed of my hard-earned money."
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Get a QuoteCustomer Complaints Summary
732 total complaints in the last 3 years.
318 complaints closed in the last 12 months.