Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses how owing back taxes can affect your travel plans, including renewing your passport or obtaining one for the first time. Here’s what you need to know about passports and taxes. You might be […]
Ask Phil: No More Surprise RO Visits
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses an important update regarding surprise RO visits. The IRS just announced that it is discontinuing home visits as an enforcement method. This means the days of intimidating revenue officers (ROs) knocking on […]
Ask Phil: How Do I Maximize Tax Deductions?
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses maximizing tax deductions. Everyone wants a big refund. So, how do we know we’re maximizing our deductions to accomplish this? It depends on whether you choose to take the standard deduction or […]
Ask Phil: What are Private Collection Agencies?
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses private collection agencies, otherwise known as PCAs. Unbeknownst to some taxpayers, the IRS doesn’t always collect taxes on their own. Sometimes they hire private collection agencies (PCAs). The IRS contracts these agencies […]
Ask Phil: The 411 on the Most Common Tax Forms
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses the most common tax forms every taxpayer should know about. Tax Form 1040 or 1040-X The well-known U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040 is what you will use to report both […]
Ask Phil: Top Tips to Avoid IRS Audits
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses his 5 top tips for how to avoid an IRS audit. File Your Taxes: Some taxpayers don’t file because they think they don’t have to. The minimum requirement to file a tax […]
Ask Phil: What is an IRS Levy Notice?
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses IRS notices, including when you can expect a notice to turn into enforcement and how to respond to a notice. When does the IRS Levy? Receiving an IRS notice can be very […]
Ask Phil: The 411 on Tax Scams
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses tax scams, including how to spot them and how to avoid being conned. Tax fraud and scams are growing in popularity and have even recently taken on newer forms. Taxpayers are often […]
Ask Phil: The 411 on Levies & Garnishments
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses levies and garnishments, including which assets the IRS can seize and how the IRS can garnish your wages. A levy is a legal seizure against your assets that results from owing back […]
Ask Phil: How Does IRS Enforcement Work?
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Lead Tax Attorney, Phil Hwang, discusses IRS enforcement, including the statute of limitations and how it might affect your credit report. Did you know the IRS has a certain amount of time to collect your tax debt before […]