IRS warns of tax scams

Since their employer did not pay all the payroll taxes, there may be no record of the hours these employees worked and therefore no credits for them in the unemployment system.

In its infinite wisdom, Congress has passed legislation that requires the IRS to hire private collection agencies to go after taxpayers who owe money to the IRS. It’s a tough task.

Tax time is here and we’re getting close to the April 15th filing deadline.

If you’ve got a fairly easy return, like a 1040, you shouldn’t have to pay for a professional or even tax software to do your taxes. “What happens essentially is the bad guy gets a hold of your information, and all he needs is your name and your social security number”.

For people like Crystal who’ve been victimized, the IRS has a list of recommended actions. “A good preparer will walk you through those”, IRS special agent Brian Watson said.

“The IRS will never call you and ask you to send them money through a wire transfer or a debit card and police will never threaten to arrest you for unpaid taxes”, Spinney said in a statement.

She’s still waiting on the number.

Call a second or third time claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles, and the caller ID again supports their claim. If you can’t get it done by the due date, ask for an extra six months to file. “If you are not a USA citizen or national, and are not lawfully present in the United States”, the IRS declared, “you are exempt from the individual shared responsibility provision and do not need to make a payment”. “I feel like I’ve been left out in the cold by the IRS”. E-filing is safer than filing a paper return, offers faster processing time, and typically provides quicker deposit time if you have a refund, combine that with greater accuracy and confirmation the IRS has received your return and it is the best way to file. As for Crystal, the IRS said an additional small group of taxpayers should receive their notices in the next couple weeks. Low- to moderate-income taxpayers can get free tax help from the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), which focuses on helping people 60 and older with retirement and pension tax-related issues. Once a taxpayer opts into this program, he or she will need to use an IP PIN for future filings. You should never send mail with checking account or personal identification numbers from your home mailbox. You can only become a victim of income tax identity theft if the criminal files an income tax return using your Social Security number before you do so the best way to prevent that is to file your income tax return as early as possible.

The IRS said every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS.

Share important information with your tax preparer. Search for “Instructions for Requesting Copy of Fraudulent Returns”. “The tactics used by these fraudsters are reprehensible, but following a few basic tips can help protect you and your wallet”.