Optima Tax Relief: 2025 Review

4.2 _/5

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Optima Tax Relief is a reputable company, but it is not one of our highest-rated. Compare it to our team’s highest-rated tax relief companies, listed below.

Tax Relief Services

• Assists with individual and business tax debts
• Staff includes tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs

• $295 fee to begin working with Optima Tax Relief
• Must have at least $10,000 in tax debt

Table of Contents

1. Services
   1. Tax relief
      1. Tax consultation
      2. Tax preparation
      3. Tax settlement
   2. Tax resolution
      1. Audit representation
      2. Dealing with the IRS
      3. Innocent spouse relief
      4. State tax relief
      5. Statute of limitations
      6. Tax prep and planning
      7. Unfiled tax returns
      8. IRS tax discharge
      9. Payroll tax relief
      10. Wage garnishment relief
   3. Tax negotiation
      1. Currently Not Collectible
      2. IRS installment plans
      3. Penalty abatement
      4. Offer in Compromise
   4. Optima Tax Shield
2. How Optima Tax Relief works
   1. Step 1: Free consultation
   2. Step 2: Investigation
   3. Step 3: Execution
3. How much does it cost?
4. How much can it save me?
5. Pros and cons
6. Reputation and accreditations
7. Alternatives
   1. Optima vs. Anthem Tax Services
8. FAQ

If you’re struggling with tax debt, you’re not alone—and tackling it yourself can feel overwhelming. Optima Tax Relief offers professional help to resolve tax issues, from IRS negotiations to settlement strategies. Its team of tax attorneys, CPAs, and enrolled agents handles everything from audit representation to filing unfiled tax returns.

While Optima Tax Relief is reputable and offers a wide range of services, it may not suit everyone. This review covers its services, pros and cons, costs, and how it compares to other tax relief companies, so you can decide whether it’s the right choice for your situation.

What Optima Tax Relief offers

Optima Tax Relief provides a full suite of services to address tax challenges for individuals and businesses. Its services include:

Tax relief

Tax consultation

It provides guidance to understand your tax situation and determine the best relief strategy.

Tax preparation

Get assistance with filing current, prior-year, and unfiled tax returns to stay compliant.

Tax settlement

Negotiate to settle your tax debt for less than you owe when you qualify.

Tax resolution

Optima’s tax resolution services focus on stopping IRS collections and resolving back taxes. These include:

Audit representation

Handling IRS audits on your behalf.

Dealing with the IRS

Communicating directly with the IRS to resolve your case efficiently.

Innocent spouse relief

Protecting you from tax liability caused by a spouse or former spouse.

State tax relief

Assistance with state tax debts, not just federal.

Statute of limitations

Reviewing your case to determine whether time limits on collections can work in your favor.

Tax prep and planning

Strategic planning to minimize future tax liabilities.

Unfiled tax returns

Preparing and filing back taxes to regain good standing.

IRS tax discharge

Assessing eligibility for discharging tax debts in bankruptcy when applicable.

Payroll tax relief

Helping business owners resolve payroll tax debts.

Wage garnishment relief

Stopping or reducing IRS wage garnishments.

Tax negotiation

Optima works to negotiate with the IRS for solutions such as:

Currently Not Collectible

Proving financial hardship to temporarily halt collections.

IRS installment plans

Setting up manageable payment plans for your tax debt.

Penalty abatement

Requesting reduction or removal of IRS penalties.

Offer in Compromise

Negotiating to settle your tax debt for less than the full amount owed.

Optima Tax Shield

In addition to its core services, Optima offers Optima Tax Shield, a proactive protection plan with three tiers—Standard Plan, Premium Plan, and Professional Plan—providing services like:

• Ongoing tax preparation assistance
• Identity and credit monitoring
• Audit defense services
• IRS communication support

These plans aim to keep you compliant year after year and avoid future tax issues.

How Optima Tax Relief works

Optima Tax Relief uses a structured, three-step process to resolve tax debt issues. Its team includes tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs who handle everything from tax consultation to final settlement negotiations.

Step 1: Free consultation

You start with a free consultation, where a tax professional reviews your situation and discusses your tax relief options. These may include services such as audit representation, IRS installment plans, or Offer in Compromise recommendations. If Optima determines it can help, you can move forward for a $295 investigation fee.

Step 2: Investigation

During the investigation phase, Optima contacts the IRS to halt collection activities such as wage garnishment or levies. The team gathers your financial information, tax history, and documents to recommend the best resolution strategy. This could involve innocent spouse relief, currently not collectible status, penalty abatement, or pursuing state tax relief programs where applicable..

Step 3: Execution

In the execution phase, Optima implements your chosen resolution plan. This may include filing unfiled tax returns, setting up IRS installment plans, or negotiating an Offer in Compromise to settle for less than you owe. Optima’s professionals also handle tax preparation if needed and can represent you throughout the process with the IRS.

Additionally, Optima offers Optima Tax Shield, a suite of ongoing protection plans (Standard, Premium, and Professional) providing tax prep assistance, audit defense, identity and credit monitoring, and proactive support to prevent future tax issues.

How much does Optima cost?

Optima does not specify the costs for most of its services. However, the minimum cost to get help from Optima Tax Relief is $295 if you move past the consultation stage. This price is in line with the competition.

In general, people with straightforward tax situations and small amounts of debt will pay less than those with large amounts of debt or more complex situations will pay more.

If you sign up for Tax Protection services, you’ll pay $29.99, $49.99, or $69.99 per month.

How much can Optima save me?

How much you can save by hiring Optima will depend on several factors, such as your income, basic living expenses, and how much tax debt you have. The more you owe, the more you can save by having Optima help you avoid penalties or settle your debt for less than you owe.

Optima admits each case is different, and the company might be unable to save you money. During your consultation, it’s worth asking for an estimate of your savings and fees to ensure it makes sense to work with the company.

The company claims to have helped its customers resolve more than $1 billion in tax debt.

Pros and cons of Optima Tax Relief

Pros

• Full-service team

  Access to tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and CPAs for all tax resolution needs

• Wide range of services

  Includes audit representation, penalty abatement, currently not collectible status, innocent spouse relief, state tax relief, and more

• Dedicated case managers

  Personalized support throughout your case

• Optima Tax Shield plans

  Ongoing protection for filing assistance, audit defense, and credit monitoring

• Free initial consultation

  Learn your options before committing

Cons

• Minimum debt requirement

  Must owe at least $10,000 to qualify

• Upfront investigation fee

  $295 fee after the free consultation to proceed

• Limited cost transparency

  Final fees depend on case complexity and aren’t clearly listed upfront

• Tax Shield costs

  Ongoing protection plans add monthly expenses ($29.99 – $69.99 per month)

Optima Tax Relief reputation and accreditations

Optima Tax Relief has a long track record and a strong reputation. It’s one of the better-known companies in its space.

The company has earned accreditations or awards from many organizations, including:

• Better Business Bureau
• Inc. Magazine
• The IRS (as a Continuing Education Provider)
• Business Consumer Alliance
• National Association of Tax Professionals
• National Association of Enrolled Agents

The company is also popular with its customers. It has a 4.6/5 rating with more than 1,500 reviews on Trustpilot and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Alternatives to Optima Tax Relief

Optima Tax Relief is far from the only company dedicated to helping people solve tax issues with the IRS. If you have tax debt and want to compare your options, we have useful resources, including our picks for the best tax relief companies.

Optima vs. Anthem Tax Services

Anthem Tax Services provides tax prep, audit defense, and debt resolution, with a focus on long-term client support. Unlike Optima, it prioritizes ongoing relationships, making it a strong choice for those who want continuous assistance with their tax issues.

Anthem’s fees are higher, reflecting its extensive services. However, it offers a money-back guarantee if it can’t improve your tax situation, providing added assurance that clients get value for their investment—something Optima does not offer.

Both companies receive positive reviews for professionalism and tax relief results. However, Anthem stands out for its hands-on, long-term approach, making it ideal for those who prefer a dedicated partner in managing their tax responsibilities.

FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Optima Tax Relief.

How we rated Optima Tax Relief

We designed LendEDU’s editorial rating system to help readers find companies that offer the best tax relief services. Our system awards higher ratings to companies with affordable solutions, positive customer reviews, and online transparency of benefits and terms.

We compared Optima Tax Relief to several tax relief companies, using hundreds of data points from company websites, public disclosures, customer reviews, and direct communication with company representatives. We weighted, scored, and combined each factor to produce a final editorial rating. This rating is expressed on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. Our take is represented in our rating, recapped below.

Company	Our rating
Optima Tax Relief	4.2/5