It’s Time for a Tax Scam Refresher Course
Despite repeated warnings from the media and the IRS alike, thousands of people are conned out of money every tax season by scammers. Make sure you’re not one of them. Here is a list of some of the most common scams the IRS sees this time of year. The list is not all-inclusive, as scammers will stop at nothing to cheat both taxpayers and the IRS out of as much money as they can every year. However, it does give you good idea of what you’re up against.
- Phone Scams – the IRS will never call you and make threats or ask for important personal information over the phone. Don’t fall for anyone impersonating the IRS with threats of deportation or other serious consequences.
- Identity Theft – whatever you do to protect yourself from identify theft throughout the year, you should double those precautions at this time of year. Stealing your identity is one of the most common tools scammers use to steal your tax refund.
- Shady Preparer – don’t fall for any tax preparer that promises you a huge refund, ask you to sign a blank return, or wants to charge you according to a percentage of your refund.
- Phishing – another common attack is called phishing, wherein scammers use fake emails or websites to trick people into giving away personal information. The IRS does not employ these methods.
- Fake Charities – another way con artists scam taxpayers is by getting them to donate funds to fake charities as they look for another way to reduce their tax bill. Consult the IRS website to be sure a charity is actually legitimate, before you donate.
- False Credit Claims – don’t give into the temptation to falsify your income in order to receive more credits, even if your preparer tells you it’s OK.
Don’t Be Fooled
If you feel that someone is trying to scam you in regards to your taxes, don’t let them get away with it. Anything that sounds to good to be true or doesn’t pass the proverbial smell-test is probably a scam. Instead, trust your taxes with the experienced and knowledgeable tax professionals at GROCO. We can help you avoid scams and get the greatest refund possible. Just call us today at 1-877-CPA-2006, or connect with us online.
8 Ways to Save on Car Insurance
8 Ways to Save on Car Insurance By Michael Broach Now that the days of cheap gas are over, people are constantly looking for ways to save a few bucks on their car. Most people will look for ways to make their car more fuel efficient, but another way to save is to lower your…
Ten Things the Average Person Does Not Know About Annuities
Ten Things the Average Person Does Not Know About Annuities By Robert D. Cavanaugh, Clu Deferred annuities possess characteristics found nowhere else. They play an important part in seniors’ portfolios. Seniors hold billions of dollars in deferred annuities. However, my experience is that the average person knows little about the unique advantages of deferred annuities,…
Wealthy Be Aware of Shady Financial Advisors
Wealthy Be Aware of Shady Financial Advisors Despite all the benefits and perks that come with being wealthy, there are also many pitfalls that many wealthy individuals can get caught up in, especially when those wealthy individuals are thrust into their wealth very suddenly, like a professional athlete or entertainer. Many of these wealthy people…
Tax Strategies That The Wealthy Use to Save
Tax Strategies That The Wealthy Use to Save We all want to save money on our taxes, especially ultra-wealthy taxpayers who are hit the hardest by the nation’s highest tax strategies of the wealthy percentages. We know that the country’s richest 1 percent pays nearly a quarter, 24 percent, of all federal income taxes collected…