Hello? Is This Really the IRS, or Just a Scam?

Conceptual,Illustration,Of,Online,Fraud,,Cyber,Crime,,Data,Hacking.,A

No one enjoys getting a call from the IRS, but getting a call from someone who claims to be from the IRS, but who is really just a scammer, is even worse. However, according to the country’s top tax agency, that is exactly the kind of sophisticated and elaborate scam that has been going on lately.

The IRS says that the scam has occurred all over the country and has even taken aim at recent immigrants. According to the IRS, the scammers use fake names and IRS ID numbers. The scammers also apparently already have detailed information about the people they call and they are also able to alter their caller ID number so it appears to be coming from the tax agency.

The con artists then claim that the taxpayer owes money to the IRS and demand prompt payment for the debt. They also threaten jail time, license suspension or even deportation in some cases. The IRS absolutely does not use these kinds of tactics.

According to the IRS website it will never do the following things when it calls:

  • Demand immediate payment. In fact, the IRS won’t even call you about taxes owed until mailing you first.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without letting you question or appeal the amount you reportedly owe.
  • Require you to use a specific payment method, like a prepaid debit card, for your taxes.
  • Ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten to have you arrested by any law-enforcement groups for not paying your debt.

You can learn more about this and other tax-related scams by visiting the IRS consumer alerts page. You can also contact us at GROCO by clicking here.

/GROCO
Posted in ,

How to Handle Tough Decisions

Everyone has to make decisions in life and many of those decisions can be very difficult to make. The same can be said for businesses. Decision makers in the business world face a lot of tough choices and some of these choices can actually make or break their companies. So how do they make tough…

Using a Tax Shelter? IRS Says Beware

People look for many different ways to save on taxes, or even to avoid paying some of the taxes they really do owe. However, despite taxpayers’ best efforts, the IRS is always on the prowl and if you’re using unscrupulous means to avoid paying taxes there is a good chance you will get caught, including…

What Is Section 1202 Stock?

The Protecting Americans From Tax Hikes Act of 2015 (PATH Act), which was signed into law late last year, finally made several temporary tax breaks permanent. Among the tax breaks included is the Small Business Stock Gains Exclusion, known as Section 1202. So what is the Small Business Stock Gain Exclusion? Section 1202 is designed…

Some of the Most Amazing Tax Deductions Ever

At GROCO, we have been doing this for more than 50 years. That means we’ve heard just about every crazy tax story you can imagine. With tax season now officially in full swing we thought we would share some of the craziest tax deduction stories we’ve ever heard; and they’re all true. A gas station…