Optima Tax charged me $8140 in December 2021 and did absolutely nothing until I was issued a levy letter in August 2022. I received multiple letters over the time frame about representation being established with the IRS, progression of the case, taxes being prepared, etc. to be told by the Optima RO team those messages were system generated and nothing had been done on my case since full payment in December.
There was a rapid attempt to get involved at that point. I moved forward with the IRS on my own so I would not lose everything I have. I had to have another company file my taxes etc. I requested a refund and was told I was entitled $1100. They also misrepresented the company to the BBB when I filed a complaint and stated they reached out to me for resolution after the initial insult of refund.
Hind sight is perfect, I have been told by the IRS and other tax companies that this is common practice for Optima. I want my money they did nothing for refunded.
When I initially contacted this firm to help me out, they told me the price of the service was $995 and I'm thinking this includes everything including State. I live paycheck to paycheck so for me that was a little pricey but I figured, it's going to probably cost me more getting a Tax Attorney to help me out so let me take out a loan and just do it. I got a high interest loan and was able to pay the fees.
A couple months later, they called me and told me phase two costs $3,500 (around that). I was mortified as again I was under the impression that the $995 was all i had to pay. But now I feel like i'm invested so I have to think of a way to get another loan to pay this fee. They do let you pay payments. the payments however are $650 (around that) a month!! that's more than my car payment!! but I'm thinking I have to do this since Im invested I'll see how many loans I can take out. so I took out another high interest loan to make the first payment! now I have two high interest loans out.
I told the company that the State is getting ready to garnish my wages and that I need their help. The State told me if I file my taxes then I probably wouldn't owe them as much as they have to take. So one of the Investigators said he'll make sure to have my situation expedited because of this. This was after my first installment.
I never hear anything, my wages are garnished now and I called to tell them they said they don't do State!
Now that I have two loans out, the odds of me being able to get another loan is becomes increasingly more impossible. Not to mention, NOW I have to make these incredibally high payments to these loan companies and try to pay off this company. Bottom line, is I couldn't get a 3rd loan, now my wages are being garnished and so now I'm having issues trying to pay back these high interest loans along with everything else I have going on. I'm in a downward spiral and so I had to cancel my services because I simply can't afford it!
Now I've lost $1700 to this company, my wages are still being garnished, they haven't even given me what their findings were up to this point and im in even more debt now and back at square one the IRS!
It's simply not fair and I feel they have taken advantage of me because I was and am in a desperate situation.
I came out of this deal DROWNING in debt and massive anxiety over what to do next!
Optima Tax Relief Reviews
Optima Tax charged me $8140 in December 2021 and did absolutely nothing until I was issued a levy letter in August 2022. I received multiple letters over the time frame about representation being established with the IRS, progression of the case, taxes being prepared, etc. to be told by the Optima RO team those messages were system generated and nothing had been done on my case since full payment in December.
There was a rapid attempt to get involved at that point. I moved forward with the IRS on my own so I would not lose everything I have. I had to have another company file my taxes etc. I requested a refund and was told I was entitled $1100. They also misrepresented the company to the BBB when I filed a complaint and stated they reached out to me for resolution after the initial insult of refund.
Hind sight is perfect, I have been told by the IRS and other tax companies that this is common practice for Optima. I want my money they did nothing for refunded.
When I initially contacted this firm to help me out, they told me the price of the service was $995 and I'm thinking this includes everything including State. I live paycheck to paycheck so for me that was a little pricey but I figured, it's going to probably cost me more getting a Tax Attorney to help me out so let me take out a loan and just do it. I got a high interest loan and was able to pay the fees.
A couple months later, they called me and told me phase two costs $3,500 (around that). I was mortified as again I was under the impression that the $995 was all i had to pay. But now I feel like i'm invested so I have to think of a way to get another loan to pay this fee. They do let you pay payments. the payments however are $650 (around that) a month!! that's more than my car payment!! but I'm thinking I have to do this since Im invested I'll see how many loans I can take out. so I took out another high interest loan to make the first payment! now I have two high interest loans out.
I told the company that the State is getting ready to garnish my wages and that I need their help. The State told me if I file my taxes then I probably wouldn't owe them as much as they have to take. So one of the Investigators said he'll make sure to have my situation expedited because of this. This was after my first installment.
I never hear anything, my wages are garnished now and I called to tell them they said they don't do State!
Now that I have two loans out, the odds of me being able to get another loan is becomes increasingly more impossible. Not to mention, NOW I have to make these incredibally high payments to these loan companies and try to pay off this company. Bottom line, is I couldn't get a 3rd loan, now my wages are being garnished and so now I'm having issues trying to pay back these high interest loans along with everything else I have going on. I'm in a downward spiral and so I had to cancel my services because I simply can't afford it!
Now I've lost $1700 to this company, my wages are still being garnished, they haven't even given me what their findings were up to this point and im in even more debt now and back at square one the IRS!
It's simply not fair and I feel they have taken advantage of me because I was and am in a desperate situation.
I came out of this deal DROWNING in debt and massive anxiety over what to do next!