How to Avoid Tax Preparation Scams
With so much to do and so many other important things to worry about, many people will be looking for help over the coming weeks and months with their income tax returns. While some people might just choose the first name they see to file their taxes, whom you choose can actually make a big difference.
Not only can your tax preparer play a big role in how much money you get back, but also there are some preparers that are simply looking to scam you. With nearly 60 percent of all tax returns being done by paid tax professionals, that means there is a lot of risk to taxpayers if they don’t choose wisely.
Fraudulent tax preparers use many different kinds of scams to cheat people out of money. These scams vary, with some preparers filing false returns in order to collect more money and others being outright scams, wherein the preparer files unauthorized returns and then takes most or all of the refund. The real problem for you the taxpayer is that if the IRS catches these fraudulent returns, you will be held liable even if you weren’t aware of your tax preparer’s actions.
So what should you do to avoid these scams? These are just a few ideas to keep in mind:
- Stay away from preparers asking for a percentage of your refund as their fee.
- Make sure you always look at the fine print and don’t sign a blank return.
- Never hand over financial info to a preparer unless you’ve chosen him/her to prepare your return.
- Make sure the preparer has signed the return and has included his/her IRS Tax Preparer Identification Number (PTIN).
- Don’t trust a preparer who doesn’t ask a lot of questions.
- Check out what the IRS says about choosing a tax professional.
Don’t get scammed by a shady tax preparer, make sure you do your homework first. Of course, you can always trust GROCO to give you honest and timely service. Our goal is to help you pay as little in taxes as legally possible. Contact us today at 1-877-CPA-2006.
Top Ways to Improve Your Leadership Skills
Top Ways to Improve Leadership Skills. You know there’s always room for more growth, more learning, and more improvement. Good leaders know they can always get better. They don’t become leaders by becoming complacent. So, since you’re like most good leaders and you recognize the need for continuing improvement, the next question is, how do…
Tax Filing Issues Have Jumped Greatly in 2019
Tax Filing Issues Have Jumped Greatly in 2019 Much of the news this tax-filing season has been about the changes in tax law, as well as the average refund amount. But there are other tax filing issues making news. In fact, that’s the exact problem. The 2019 tax season has been full of issues. According to statistics from the…
What Makes a Boss Truly Great?
What Makes a Boss Truly Great? How do you feel about your boss? If you’re a boss, how do your employees feel about you? In reality, the term boss doesn’t have the greatest connotation. That being said, some people still have great “bosses.” But what makes a boss, or a leader, great? Great companies offer their…
Will This Tax Season Cause Even More Stress Than Normal?
Will This Tax Season Cause Even More Stress Than Normal? Life is full of stress. And tax season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. Plus, with the new tax changes this year, things could get even more complicated for many taxpayers. It’s enough to blow your mind and send you…