$8,290 Retainer Taken, Zero IRS Representation (Unfiled Form 2848)
On May 17, 2023, I paid Optima Tax Relief an $8,290 retainer to resolve a tax matter. Per our Client Services Agreement, they were obligated to file a Power of Attorney (Form 2848) and negotiate directly with the IRS. To date, the IRS has absolutely zero record of Optima ever filing a POA or performing any external work on my behalf. When I confronted them about taking thousands of dollars for internal paperwork that yielded zero real-world tax resolution, their Executive Review Board Specialist, Alejandro Casasola, admitted the lack of performance by offering me a 50% "courtesy" refund. They are currently retaining my unearned funds in breach of contract. I have filed formal complaints with the California Attorney General and the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (Form 14157), and am currently executing binding arbitration against them. Avoid this "firm" at all costs.