Receiving a CP504 notice from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) means you have an unpaid tax balance that requires your attention. If you ignore a CP504 notice, the IRS may levy your state tax refund, continue collection efforts, and eventually pursue other […]
Can the IRS Garnish Social Security Disability (SSDI) Payments?
Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits can make it difficult to manage everyday expenses, especially when disability payments are a primary source of income. If you also owe back taxes, you may be worried about whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) […]
Can You Get a Mortgage If You Have an IRS Tax Lien?
Buying a home while dealing with unpaid taxes can be challenging, especially if the IRS has filed a federal tax lien against you. However, getting a mortgage with IRS tax lien issues on your record may still be possible, depending on the […]
2026 IRS Notice Guide: What Each Notice Means
Receiving a letter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can be stressful, especially if it mentions unpaid taxes, proposed adjustments to your tax return, or potential collection action. However, not every IRS notice means you are being audited or that the IRS […]
Which States Have No Income Tax? The 2026 List
Nine states do not tax wages or salaries: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire became fully income-tax free in 2025, when its tax on interest and dividends ended. Washington comes with an asterisk: it […]
Optima Tax Shield: Tax Help for Victims of Tax Identity Theft
Tax identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s personal information to commit tax-related fraud, such as filing a fraudulent tax return or attempting to claim a refund. Victims may not discover the problem until their legitimate tax return is rejected or […]
Why Do Taxpayers Finally Act on Tax Problems? What Makes Them Seek Help
Knowing you have a tax problem and deciding to do something about it are not always the same thing. A taxpayer may know a return was never filed. They may know an IRS balance remains unpaid. They may even suspect that penalties […]
Do Taxpayers Who Owe Trust the IRS? Why Many Are Unsure About Enforcement
If you owe the IRS money, how likely do you think it is that the agency will find you, enforce the balance, or take action? In Optima Tax Relief’s 2025 Annual Report, which surveyed every client who enrolled in resolution services during […]
Ask Phil: Can’t Pay a Large IRS Debt? How to Reverse a Passport Restriction
Optima Tax Relief’s Chief Tax Officer and Lead Tax Attorney, Phil, answers another question from Reddit from a taxpayer who owes more than $230,000 to the IRS, has had their passport suspended, and can’t afford to pay the tax liability in full. […]
How Does Self-Employment Tax Work?
If you’re self-employed, you likely know that managing your taxes can feel more complicated than simply having an employer deduct them from your paycheck. One of the most critical aspects of your tax responsibility is self-employment tax, which covers Social Security and […]