Optima Tax Relief

On November 18, I spoke with you when I called your office and shared my complaint to you in reference to my displeasure with the handling of my 1st payment and my case by Optima Tax Relief. A representative from Optima, ***, explained the cost for services would be $500.00 to be represented, then I would owe the balance of $2960.00. This is a total of $3,49600 to handle my tax case with the *** I paid $250.00 bi-weekly until I paid off the fee for their representation. That amounted to $3,496.00 for Optima Tax Relief to handle my tax case with the *** for my 2018 *** winning ticket of $5,000.00. Background history When the clerk at the *** in downtown ***, gave me an envelope with a check for $5000.00 for my winnings from the Georgia Lottery in 2018. The Clerk never once advised me to make sure that I read the information in reference to the *** taxes for winning that amount. So, I never read the paper work inside the envelope and thus my problem started with the *** Late in 2020, I got a notice from the *** regarding the income received but not reported in 2018. I began to try to correct my errors and seek help. I had never won that amount of money playing lottery and was totally unaware of the process with the *** I still feel I should have been advised by the *** Office clerk to check the information inside the envelope to report my winnings of $5000.00.So the next phase, I heard this TV Commercial about Optima Tax Relief that stated they would help people with *** Tax issues without a consultation fee. Just give them a call, well I did and the first thing the rep. from Optima asked for was a fee of $500.00 up front to begin addressing my tax issue back in March . My issues with Optima Tax have gone south since then. Now that I have paid them their fee and given them what I have been asked to get my problem resolved I have had a series of Optima staff members handling my case. When I call their office the first time the representative that was handling my case was ***. I later tried to reach him and was advised that he had moved on. I later found out by him when I called another phone number that he had given me, that he had not moved on but a lady was handling my case. Her name is ***, *** this was on September 30. When I call her about my case, she has been a monster: she is offensive when I attempt to find out about my case. She has asked me to send in to her information and once I send it, she states that she has not received it. So, I started to send to her signature postage, when I get the return, she refuses to sign her name, only thing I get is a number or what it looks like a number. It's incredible with the issues I am having with the Optima Tax Relief organization. I first contacted them around March. I was told that I would get a Resolution around June . It's now Nov of 2021. I need *** complaintsboard.com to look into getting my payments back of $3,460.00. They now refuse to answer my calls, I need your assistance to close this business down so no one else has to suffer the indignity of this operation called Optima Tax Relief. There address is:Optima Tax Relief *** I am a retired Washington *** officer where I served for 21years. I am also a retired *** Deputy *** where I served for 25 years here in *** and Washington DC. I also served as a combat Infantry soldier in ***.I don't like to see people get used and abused by bullies and I have tried my best to stop this behavior and bring justice up front. I pray for your assistance. Your Truly

I hired Optima Tax Relief as I ended up with a pretty big tax bill in 2021. I had hired them in April/May 2022 timeframe. They promised me that they could assist with my issue and have an offer in compromise as my situation was related to an unexpected death. Fast forward to January 2023, I was forced into a payment plan I cannot afford and an offer in compromise was out of the question. I really feel that they misrepresented themselves, as well as had unprofessional and completely unknowledgeable representation. In my initial conversion, I asked specifically if there was a tax lawyer that would be involved and that never was the case. I never had a dedicated case worker which meant I spoke to dozen of various call center reps. I requested a refund, as I had paid $10k for this service and was flat out told no. Please note this was after I asked for a full transcript of the investigation and IRS discussions on my case. This is the biggest scam, and I can't believe this is even legal. Don't be fooled, hire a lawyer for this.

December 2021 paid optima 8500 dollars to get on a payment plan with the IRS for back taxes owed.

First 500 was paid to start the initial phase, everything seemed okay then they just called to provide me. Verbal status update on my case .

During the 2nd phase i paid 8000 to get my case settled with the IRS after that optima entirely ghosted me . I could never get to speak with someone on the phone handling my taxes the people who work there show no empathy. You would get the run around, wait on the phone for long periods receive no call back, one of the agents who work there even blocked me from sending emails to the company email. I then noticed i got myself in a Scam. They pray off people who who are desperate and take advantage of your fear of dealing with the IRS. That made me realized that that company wasn't genuine

I became so frustrated with optima i asked them for a refund of my 8000 their response was they would like to keep me as client i requested a refund and after several days of calling Sophia at optima she finally picks up the phone and tells me they willing to give me 1000. I asked her what did optima do that they trying to keep all my hard earned money. She agreed to bring it to the board after weeks of calling asking for a status update she finally answers the phone after staying on the phone for a lifetime they agreed to pay me $2211.30 cents . I laughed because optima did nothing for me but fraudulently stole my money. Optima is a scam please please please listen . That company is a scam

PLEASE listen “DO NOT USE OPTIMA TAX. No matter how desperate you are save yourself the headache get a more reputable company that has your best interest at heart.

I hired Optima 1-28-2019 Paid $ 4518.00 and had no results. The IRS has filed a lien with the county in which I live. I feel they have not done anything for me so I feel they should return the money I paid and I can give it to the IRS and make payment arraignments with them. They are very slow to answer my correspondence. I have sent them all the copies of letters I have received from IRS.