Tax Scams To Be Aware Of
These days, scammers are quite smart at tricking people into tax scams, so taxpayers must remain alert and aware of common scams to avoid losing money. Here are some tax scams to be aware of.
Fraudulent Form Filing on Social Media
Scammers are pros at circulating inaccurate or misleading tax information so that their victims fall for submitting their personal information in hopes of getting a tax refund. Instead of clicking on an unknown link or filling out a form on social media, contact your professional tax accountant to get the appropriate information.
Third-Party Scammers
Scammers sometimes pose as a “helpful” third party and offer to create a taxpayer’s IRS online account. However, their real intention is to steal a taxpayer’s personal information. Always access your account directly through IRS.gov. If you need assistance with a form on the website, contact your professional tax accountant for help.
Phishing
Taxpayers should be aware of impersonators posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and financial industry. Scammers will lure victims in any way they can through phone calls, letters, and emails to get their victims to provide personal and financial information so they can steal their identity. Some scammers may use IRS impersonators to intimidate people into paying a fabricated tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest or deport the person if they don’t obey.
Tips to Keep in Mind
- The IRS uses regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service to contact taxpayers. They will never initiate contact through email, text, or social media.
- If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, ask them to verify your personal information. The IRS representative will have your information on file if it is a legit call. If the call sounds like a scam, hang up immediately.
- To report IRS scams, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
When In Doubt, Contact Your Professional Tax Accountant
If you have questions regarding tax filing forms, call your tax accountant before doing anything else to ensure that the information requested is legitimate. JTS Associates CPAs is here to help with all your tax filing needs. Contact us at (516) 877-5900.
