Tax time is open season for hackers and scam artists. Be on the lookout for the following scams:
IRS-Impersonation Phone Scams
- Urgency and insistence that there will be consequences if your taxes are not paid immediately.
- Requesting sensitive information over the phone such as a social security number or address.
Fraudulent Tax Returns
- File your tax return as soon as possible because the IRS only accepts one tax return per Social Security number. If you file early, it’s impossible for a fraudster to submit another return with your information.
Keep your Documents Secure
- Make sure that any tax documentation you retain is stored securely.
- If you need to discard any documents with sensitive information, use a shredder.
According to the IRS, they will not:
- Call you to demand immediate payment. The IRS will not call you if you owe taxes without first sending you a bill in the mail.
- Demand that you pay taxes and not allow you to question or appeal the amount you owe.
- Require that you pay your taxes a certain way. For instance, require that you pay with a prepaid debit card.
- Ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Threaten to bring in police or other agencies to arrest you for not paying.
If you ever suspect you have been a victim of identity theft and fraud regarding your taxes, call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) at 1-800-908-4490
2nd Pair of Hands is proud to use Tangie Cooper, CPA for our tax needs and couldn’t recommend them highly enough. If you still need to file or have tax questions, learn more about them at https://www.trcoopercpa.com.