diff --git a/core/environment.c b/core/environment.c
index d2d56a593..af192c09b 100644
--- a/core/environment.c
+++ b/core/environment.c
@@ -117,7 +117,10 @@ static void environment_init_modes(environment_t* env, int num_modes, int num_st
  * @brief Initialize the federation-specific parts of the environment struct.
  */
 static void environment_init_federated(environment_t* env, int num_is_present_fields) {
-#ifdef FEDERATED_DECENTRALIZED
+#if defined(FEDERATED_CENTRALIZED)
+  env->need_to_send_LTC = false;
+  (void)num_is_present_fields;
+#elif defined(FEDERATED_DECENTRALIZED)
   if (num_is_present_fields > 0) {
     env->_lf_intended_tag_fields = (tag_t**)calloc(num_is_present_fields, sizeof(tag_t*));
     LF_ASSERT_NON_NULL(env->_lf_intended_tag_fields);
diff --git a/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.c b/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.c
index 157425811..3a1b16fab 100644
--- a/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.c
+++ b/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ void _logical_tag_complete(scheduling_node_t* enclave, tag_t completed) {
 
   enclave->completed = completed;
 
-  LF_PRINT_LOG("RTI received from federate/enclave %d the latest tag complete (LTC) " PRINTF_TAG ".", enclave->id,
+  LF_PRINT_LOG("RTI received from federate/enclave %d the latest tag confirmed (LTC) " PRINTF_TAG ".", enclave->id,
                enclave->completed.time - start_time, enclave->completed.microstep);
 
   // Check downstream scheduling_nodes to see whether they should now be granted a TAG.
diff --git a/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.h b/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.h
index d4e0c1236..615ca8a8a 100644
--- a/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.h
+++ b/core/federated/RTI/rti_common.h
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ void notify_provisional_tag_advance_grant(scheduling_node_t* e, tag_t tag);
  * If M is equal to the NET of the federate, then return PTAG(M).
  *
  * This should be called whenever an immediately upstream federate sends to
- * the RTI an LTC (latest tag complete), or when a transitive upstream
+ * the RTI an LTC (latest tag confirmed), or when a transitive upstream
  * federate sends a NET (Next Event Tag) message.
  * It is also called when an upstream federate resigns from the federation.
  *
diff --git a/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.c b/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.c
index 4efe438e6..3daaeff7e 100644
--- a/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.c
+++ b/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.c
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ void handle_timed_message(federate_info_t* sending_federate, unsigned char* buff
   LF_MUTEX_UNLOCK(&rti_mutex);
 }
 
-void handle_latest_tag_complete(federate_info_t* fed) {
+void handle_latest_tag_confirmed(federate_info_t* fed) {
   unsigned char buffer[sizeof(int64_t) + sizeof(uint32_t)];
   read_from_socket_fail_on_error(&fed->socket, sizeof(int64_t) + sizeof(uint32_t), buffer, NULL,
                                  "RTI failed to read the content of the logical tag complete from federate %d.",
@@ -1110,8 +1110,8 @@ void* federate_info_thread_TCP(void* fed) {
     case MSG_TYPE_NEXT_EVENT_TAG:
       handle_next_event_tag(my_fed);
       break;
-    case MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_COMPLETE:
-      handle_latest_tag_complete(my_fed);
+    case MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_CONFIRMED:
+      handle_latest_tag_confirmed(my_fed);
       break;
     case MSG_TYPE_STOP_REQUEST:
       handle_stop_request_message(my_fed); // FIXME: Reviewed until here.
diff --git a/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.h b/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.h
index a83179f62..8d3012b95 100644
--- a/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.h
+++ b/core/federated/RTI/rti_remote.h
@@ -217,14 +217,14 @@ void handle_port_absent_message(federate_info_t* sending_federate, unsigned char
 void handle_timed_message(federate_info_t* sending_federate, unsigned char* buffer);
 
 /**
- * Handle a latest tag complete (LTC) message. @see
- * MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_COMPLETE in rti.h.
+ * Handle a latest tag confirmed (LTC) message. @see
+ * MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_CONFIRMED in rti.h.
  *
  * This function assumes the caller does not hold the mutex.
  *
  * @param fed The federate that has completed a logical tag.
  */
-void handle_latest_tag_complete(federate_info_t* fed);
+void handle_latest_tag_confirmed(federate_info_t* fed);
 
 /**
  * Handle a next event tag (NET) message. @see MSG_TYPE_NEXT_EVENT_TAG in rti.h.
diff --git a/core/federated/federate.c b/core/federated/federate.c
index ad1ec1741..c1bd4cbea 100644
--- a/core/federated/federate.c
+++ b/core/federated/federate.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static void send_time(unsigned char type, instant_t time) {
 /**
  * Send a tag to the RTI.
  * This function acquires the lf_outbound_socket_mutex.
- * @param type The message type (MSG_TYPE_NEXT_EVENT_TAG or MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_COMPLETE).
+ * @param type The message type (MSG_TYPE_NEXT_EVENT_TAG or MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_CONFIRMED).
  * @param tag The tag.
  */
 static void send_tag(unsigned char type, tag_t tag) {
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@ static void handle_provisional_tag_advance_grant() {
     // TAG. In either case, we know that at the PTAG tag, all outputs
     // have either been sent or are absent, so we can send an LTC.
     // Send an LTC to indicate absent outputs.
-    lf_latest_tag_complete(PTAG);
+    lf_latest_tag_confirmed(PTAG);
     // Nothing more to do.
     LF_MUTEX_UNLOCK(&env->mutex);
     return;
@@ -2202,14 +2202,21 @@ void* lf_handle_p2p_connections_from_federates(void* env_arg) {
   return NULL;
 }
 
-void lf_latest_tag_complete(tag_t tag_to_send) {
-  int compare_with_last_tag = lf_tag_compare(_fed.last_sent_LTC, tag_to_send);
-  if (compare_with_last_tag >= 0) {
+void lf_latest_tag_confirmed(tag_t tag_to_send) {
+  environment_t* env;
+  if (lf_tag_compare(_fed.last_sent_LTC, tag_to_send) >= 0) {
+    return; // Already sent this or later tag.
+  }
+  _lf_get_environments(&env);
+  if (!env->need_to_send_LTC) {
+    LF_PRINT_LOG("Skip sending Latest Tag Confirmed (LTC) to the RTI because there was no tagged message with the "
+                 "tag " PRINTF_TAG " that this federate has received.",
+                 tag_to_send.time - start_time, tag_to_send.microstep);
     return;
   }
-  LF_PRINT_LOG("Sending Latest Tag Complete (LTC) " PRINTF_TAG " to the RTI.", tag_to_send.time - start_time,
+  LF_PRINT_LOG("Sending Latest Tag Confirmed (LTC) " PRINTF_TAG " to the RTI.", tag_to_send.time - start_time,
                tag_to_send.microstep);
-  send_tag(MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_COMPLETE, tag_to_send);
+  send_tag(MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_CONFIRMED, tag_to_send);
   _fed.last_sent_LTC = tag_to_send;
 }
 
diff --git a/core/reactor_common.c b/core/reactor_common.c
index 55d3342ca..34f9d68eb 100644
--- a/core/reactor_common.c
+++ b/core/reactor_common.c
@@ -210,6 +210,10 @@ void _lf_start_time_step(environment_t* env) {
     }
 #endif // FEDERATED_DECENTRALIZED
 
+#ifdef FEDERATED_CENTRALIZED
+    env->need_to_send_LTC = false;
+#endif // FEDERATED_CENTRALIZED
+
     // Reset absent fields on network ports because
     // their status is unknown
     lf_reset_status_fields_on_input_port_triggers();
diff --git a/core/threaded/reactor_threaded.c b/core/threaded/reactor_threaded.c
index 8023dd10d..ce4c463b5 100644
--- a/core/threaded/reactor_threaded.c
+++ b/core/threaded/reactor_threaded.c
@@ -881,6 +881,15 @@ void _lf_worker_do_work(environment_t* env, int worker_number) {
                    worker_number, current_reaction_to_execute->name, LF_LEVEL(current_reaction_to_execute->index),
                    current_reaction_to_execute->is_an_input_reaction, current_reaction_to_execute->deadline);
 
+#ifdef FEDERATED_CENTRALIZED
+    if (current_reaction_to_execute->is_an_input_reaction) {
+      // This federate has received a tagged message with the current tag and
+      // must send LTC at the current tag to confirm that the federate has successfully
+      // received and processed tagged messages with the current tag.
+      env->need_to_send_LTC = true;
+    }
+#endif // FEDERATED_CENTRALIZED
+
     bool violation = _lf_worker_handle_violations(env, worker_number, current_reaction_to_execute);
 
     if (!violation) {
diff --git a/include/core/environment.h b/include/core/environment.h
index 038f97e4e..8099eed26 100644
--- a/include/core/environment.h
+++ b/include/core/environment.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ typedef struct environment_t {
 #if defined(FEDERATED)
   tag_t** _lf_intended_tag_fields;
   int _lf_intended_tag_fields_size;
+  bool need_to_send_LTC;
 #endif             // FEDERATED
 #ifdef LF_ENCLAVES // TODO: Consider dropping #ifdef
   enclave_info_t* enclave_info;
diff --git a/include/core/federated/federate.h b/include/core/federated/federate.h
index 230f3e277..8ab5dab2e 100644
--- a/include/core/federated/federate.h
+++ b/include/core/federated/federate.h
@@ -150,12 +150,12 @@ typedef struct federate_instance_t {
   bool received_stop_request_from_rti;
 
   /**
-   * A record of the most recently sent LTC (latest tag complete) message.
+   * A record of the most recently sent LTC (latest tag confirmed) message.
    * In some situations, federates can send logical_tag_complete for
    * the same tag twice or more in-a-row to the RTI. For example, when
    * _lf_next() returns without advancing tag. To prevent overwhelming
    * the RTI with extra messages, record the last sent logical tag
-   * complete message and check against it in lf_latest_tag_complete().
+   * complete message and check against it in lf_latest_tag_confirmed().
    *
    * @note Here, the underlying assumption is that the TCP stack will
    *  deliver the Logical TAG Complete message to the RTI eventually
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ void lf_enqueue_port_absent_reactions(environment_t* env);
 void* lf_handle_p2p_connections_from_federates(void*);
 
 /**
- * @brief Send a latest tag complete (LTC) signal to the RTI.
+ * @brief Send a latest tag confirmed (LTC) signal to the RTI.
  *
  * This avoids the send if an equal or later LTC has previously been sent.
  *
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ void* lf_handle_p2p_connections_from_federates(void*);
  *
  * @param tag_to_send The tag to send.
  */
-void lf_latest_tag_complete(tag_t);
+void lf_latest_tag_confirmed(tag_t);
 
 /**
  * @brief Parse the address of the RTI and store them into the global federation_metadata struct.
diff --git a/include/core/federated/network/net_common.h b/include/core/federated/network/net_common.h
index accd075bc..79ce19550 100644
--- a/include/core/federated/network/net_common.h
+++ b/include/core/federated/network/net_common.h
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  * each federate has a valid event at the start tag (start time, 0) and it will
  * inform the RTI of this event.
  * Subsequently, at the conclusion of each tag, each federate will send a
- * `MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_COMPLETE` followed by a `MSG_TYPE_NEXT_EVENT_TAG` (see
+ * `MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_CONFIRMED` followed by a `MSG_TYPE_NEXT_EVENT_TAG` (see
  * the comment for each message for further explanation). Each federate would
  * have to wait for a `MSG_TYPE_TAG_ADVANCE_GRANT` or a
  * `MSG_TYPE_PROVISIONAL_TAG_ADVANCE_GRANT` before it can advance to a
@@ -434,12 +434,12 @@ THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 #define MSG_TYPE_PROVISIONAL_TAG_ADVANCE_GRANT 8
 
 /**
- * Byte identifying a latest tag complete (LTC) message sent by a federate
+ * Byte identifying a latest tag confirmed (LTC) message sent by a federate
  * to the RTI.
  * The next eight bytes will be the timestep of the completed tag.
  * The next four bytes will be the microsteps of the completed tag.
  */
-#define MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_COMPLETE 9
+#define MSG_TYPE_LATEST_TAG_CONFIRMED 9
 
 /////////// Messages used in lf_request_stop() ///////////////
 //// Overview of the algorithm:
diff --git a/lingua-franca-ref.txt b/lingua-franca-ref.txt
index 1f7391f92..32836b440 100644
--- a/lingua-franca-ref.txt
+++ b/lingua-franca-ref.txt
@@ -1 +1 @@
-master
+LTC-optimization