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Articles by Elyssa Carlos

What To Do If You Receive IRS Notice CP504 

Receiving a notice from the IRS can be intimidating, especially if it’s IRS Notice CP504. This is not just a regular reminder; it’s a Final Notice of Intent to Levy. Understanding what this notice means and how to respond promptly is crucial to avoid further penalties and collection actions. Here’s what you need to know […]

2025 IRS Tax Inflation Adjustments 

The IRS has announced its annual inflation adjustments for 2025, impacting a wide range of tax provisions. These adjustments are designed to prevent taxpayers from being pushed into higher tax brackets due to inflation. We’ve discussed the updated tax brackets and standard deductions in a previous post. Here’s a breakdown of the other most significant […]

Ask Phil: How Do Gift Taxes Work? 

Today, Optima Tax Relief Lead Tax Attorney, Phil, talks about a popular giving season topic: gift taxes. Did you know gifting can sometimes lead to taxes owed?   It’s the season of gifting, making things like real estate, cars, money, and almost everything else with monetary value subject to tax. The gift tax is a […]

What is the IRS Federal Payment Levy Program? 

The IRS Federal Payment Levy Program (FPLP) is a powerful tool the Internal Revenue Service uses to recover overdue tax debts by seizing federal payments owed to taxpayers. Introduced as part of a collaborative effort between the IRS and the Department of the Treasury’s Bureau of Fiscal Service, the FPLP ensures that individuals and businesses […]

Optima Newsletter – December 2024

Can the IRS Take My Social Security? When you have unpaid taxes, many beneficiaries fear that the IRS could step in and take a portion of their much-needed Social Security payments. It’s an unsettling thought, but it raises an important question: can the IRS take your Social Security? The answer, unfortunately, is yes—but it’s not […]