Understanding the tax differences between Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) is critical for anyone trying to reduce healthcare costs and lower their tax bill. While both accounts are designed to help pay medical expenses with pre-tax dollars, the rules governing eligibility, taxation, and long-term benefits are significantly different. These differences can impact not just your […]
Ask Phil: What is a CSED?
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Chief Tax Officer and Lead Tax Attorney, Phil, answers a Reddit question about CSEDs: “If my CSED is 11/15/25, does it expire at the beginning or end of the month?” To get there, he breaks down what a Collection Statute Expiration Date (CSED) actually is and how the IRS calculates it. What the CSED Really Is […]
2026 Tax Changes: What You Need to Know
The 2026 tax year brings a mix of inflation-based adjustments and structural reforms that will affect how much many Americans owe or save when they file their returns in 2027. Driven largely by routine IRS indexing and major provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), these updates touch nearly every area of the tax code, from income […]
Ask Phil: 5 Helpful Tax Tips If You’re Self-Employed
Today, Optima Tax Relief’s Chief Tax Officer and Lead Tax Attorney, Phil, shares five essential tax tips every self-employed individual should know. Tip 1: Make Your Quarterly Estimated Payments As a self-employed taxpayer, you are responsible for paying your taxes quarterly. Missing these payments can result in penalties and interest, so staying on schedule is key. Tip […]
Top Strategies to Pay Off Back Taxes Faster
Owing back taxes can quickly become one of the most stressful financial problems a person faces. Penalties and interest continue to grow, IRS notices become more aggressive, and many taxpayers aren’t sure which option will actually help them resolve the debt faster rather than just postpone it. The good news is that the IRS offers multiple ways […]