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.

Posted in

Preserving My Family’s Life’s Work & Legacy

Tom Chatham, Chairman of Chatham Created Gems & Diamonds, Inc., discusses preserving his family’s legacy and life’s work on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show.   Transcript: Alan Olsen Welcome to America dreams. My guest today is Tom Chatham. Welcome to today’s show.   Tom Chatham Thank you glad to be here.   Alan Olsen So, Tom, we’ve had…

Mastering Business Growth with Howard Shore

Mastering Business Growth with Howard Shore

Howard Shore, Founder and CEO of Activate Group Inc. discusses managing, even mastering, business growth and the challenges growing quickly can present on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show. Transcript: Alan Olsen Welcome to American Dreams. My guest today is Howard Shore. Howard, welcome to today’s show.   Howard Shore Alan, thank you for having me.   Alan…

Prosperity and Self-Reliance Zealot Steve Alder

Prosperity and Self-Reliance Zealot Steve Alder

From North America to Ghana, Africa, Steve Alder, President of Ensign Global College (www.ensign.edu.gh), sits down to discuss how a professor helps to build global prosperity and self-reliance on Alan Olsen‘s American Dreams Show. Transcript: Alan Olsen Welcome to American Dreams I’m visiting here today with Steve Alder. Steve, welcome to today’s program.   Steve Alder Thank…

Steve Young on Building an Epic Family Legacy

Retired 49r Steve Young Discusses Building a Family Legacy at the Legacy Builders Event on May 15, 2024 As GROCO celebrates three decades of excellence in family office tax and advisory services, we have developed the Legacy Builders to stands as a testament to the firm’s enduring vision: to transform wealth into a powerful tool…