A client came to me after paying Optima Tax Relief more than $4,000 to get caught up on several years of unfiled returns. Nearly a year later, no returns had been filed. Here’s what happened after I stepped in and what I think taxpayers should know before hiring a tax relief company.

If you filed an extension in April, you now have one month left to file your 2025 return. Whether you're missing documents, behind on your records, worried about what you owe, or simply haven't gotten around to it, now is the time to figure out what's keeping you from finishing.

I called the IRS to fix an error in their own system. Two hours, three minutes, and two seconds later, they told me to call back.

You may have more options than you think. Before paying thousands for tax relief, learn what the IRS offers directly, what you can handle yourself, and when professional help actually makes sense.