Optima Tax Relief

What We Love About Optima Tax Relief

Optima Tax Relief has tax attorneys on staff who are licensed by the IRS in all 50 states. Although other companies claim to have tax lawyers, they rarely list their names and credentials. And if they do, it is usually just one or two lawyers who rent out their name to provide a veneer of respectability. Optima Tax lists the names and resumes of 10 of their tax attorneys and eight of their enrolled agents so that you can check their credentials. In total, they have a team of 25 licensed expert professionals on staff.

OTR offers a 15-day money-back guarantee and flexible installment payments with no financing costs. They are accredited by the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) and the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP).

The firm has a large team (+400) of tax professionals that can help with an audit, negotiate a tax settlement, help you prepare your taxes, and protect you from further tax problems once you’re tax debt-free.

Its customer portal allows taxpayers to check their account status, upload documents, and communicate with a dedicated tax professional.

Optima Tax Relief Bill of Rights

It's a nice touch that OTR offers customers a Bill of Rights that customers can expect.

• Services of the highest industry standard among tax relief companies.
• Clear expectations on our two-phase process.
• Honesty in all communication with clear and easy to understand language.
• Receive a full and thorough investigation of their past, current, and potential tax issues.
• Have their concerns heard and addressed promptly on any issue they have.
• Clear, logical communication that empowers them to make informed decisions.
• Expect confidentiality in all matters pertaining to their case.
• The smoothest and most innovative client experience available in the industry.
• Speak to the person assigned to their case or receive a response within 24 hours.
• Be treated like an individual, not a number.

How does Optima Tax Relief work?

When an individual contacts Optima Tax Relief, they are promptly connected with a knowledgeable Tax Associate who offers an assessment of the person's tax situation. This initial consultation is provided without any charge and is conducted confidentially.

Investigative phase

Following the consultation, Optima proceeds to what they refer to as the 'Investigation Phase'. During this phase, their tax experts carry out a thorough examination of the client's specific tax situation. Upon gaining a comprehensive understanding, these professionals then determine the most suitable tax resolution approach.

It's not uncommon for the IRS to employ measures such as wage garnishments, bank levies, or tax liens when dealing with taxpayers. If faced with such situations, Optima's representatives can engage with the IRS, aiming to mediate and potentially halt these assertive actions throughout the investigation.

Tax resolution process

Optima Tax Relief has a team of experienced tax attorneys and enrolled agents -- over 25 licensed professional working in-house.

The resolution process at Optima can be summarized in three steps:

• The agents assemble and submit all required documents to ensure the client is fully compliant with IRS regulations.
• Their tax specialists diligently craft a case supporting the chosen resolution strategy.
• The case is then presented to the IRS, positioning the client for an optimal financial result.

What are Optima Tax Relief services?

Optima Tax Relief's large team of in-house tax professionals allow them to provide a wide selection of services. Here is a summary of the main options.

• Penalty Abatement: Got extra fees for late filing or payments? The IRS might cancel or lessen these if they're higher than the actual tax owed.
• Installment Agreement: Break your total tax bill into smaller, regular payments. It's like setting up a monthly plan.
• Offer in Compromise: You offer to pay the IRS the maximum amount that you can afford even though that amount may fall far short of the actual tax debt. If the IRS accepts that the amount you offer to pay is the most that it could reasonably expect to collect from you, it will agree to compromise and essentially lower your tax debt to match the amount you can pay.
• Partial Pay Installment Agreement (PPIA): If you can't finish paying before time runs out, this lets you make fewer payments than the total tax amount.
• Tax Lien Discharge: If the IRS has a claim on your property, this lets you sell it without that claim.
• Tax Lien Subordination: Got other debts? This allows another creditor to get paid before the IRS if you sell your property.
• Tax Lien Withdrawal: Once you clear your tax debt, the IRS removes its claim on your property.
• Wage Garnishment Release: If the IRS is taking money from your paycheck, clearing your debt stops this.
• Bank Levy Release: If you've settled your tax debt or time's run out, the IRS will stop taking money from your bank account.
• Innocent Spouse Relief: If your shared tax return has mistakes you didn't know about, the IRS might not hold you responsible.
• Currently Non-Collectible: Going through tough times? The IRS might temporarily hold off on collecting.
• Statute of Limitations: The IRS has about 10 years to collect taxes. This timer can change based on different actions.
• Collection Appeal: Disagree with the IRS's collection actions? You can appeal with a separate office.
• Administrative Appeal: If you face certain issues, you can directly appeal to the IRS. More details can be found in IRS document 8.7.14.4.

Optima Tax Relief tax preparation services

OTR's team of tax pros also offers tax preparation services. These include:

• Filing federal or state taxes.
• Catching up on overdue returns
• Maximizing deductions, ensuring accurancy, and minimizing potential errors when filing your taxes.

The challenge of navigating the intricate web of credits and deductions is made simpler with OTR's expertise. Their professionals guide clients through the process, ensuring they either maximize refunds or minimize owed amounts. Here's a brief overview of some areas where clients might be eligible for credits or deductions:

• Credits for Individuals: Covering areas such as family, income, homeownership, healthcare, and education.
• Deductions for Individuals: Ranging from work-related deductions to itemized, education, healthcare, and investment-related deductions.

For anyone unsure about their tax standing, OTR offers a free consultation to guide them.

What Could Optima Tax Relief Do Better?

There are cheaper tax relief firms. Although OTR’s rates are competitive, there are companies with lower prices. The money-back-guarantee could be longer. Although Optima Tax is one of the few tax relief firms to offer a money-back guarantee, it would be nice if it gave taxpayers a longer period to claim it.

The Verdict

The bottom line is that Optima Tax Relief has the resources and expertise to deal with the most complex tax problems. If you’re looking for a reliable and professional tax relief company, Optima Tax Relief is a sound choice. While it isn’t the cheapest firm you’ll find, its fees are competitive, particularly when you consider it has attorneys on staff with J.D. and LL.M. degrees in Taxation who have practiced law before the United States Tax Court and Supreme Court of California.

Even if you’re on a tight budget and price is an important factor, don’t automatically conclude you can’t afford the representation of a high-end firm. You may be surprised at how affordable the fees are when you break them down into interest-free installment payments.