It’s tax filing season and criminals are in full force trying to implement fraudulent schemes and take advantage of the multitudes of personal data and information floating around the internet, mail, and phone lines. Taxpayers should be aware of the following tips to ensure that they do not become the victims of these various internet and telemarketing scams, since the financial ramifications may be devastating.
Taxpayers should remember that the IRS will NEVER:
- Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed a notice of an amount due.
- Threaten to report nonpayment immediately to some law-enforcement agency as if such nonpayment is a serious crime.
- Demand payment of taxes owed without allowing the opportunity to question or appeal the alleged amount due.
- Require the use of a specific payment method for payment of taxes.
- Ask for credit or debit card account numbers over the phone.
If you get a suspicious phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, do not give out any information. HANG UP IMMEDIATELY. A wise practice is to search the internet for any suspicious telephone numbers you receive, especially those that leave a voicemail and ask you to return the call. Some of these phone numbers may even be linked to criminal activity. Then you should do, at least, one of the following to resolve any uncertainty and report this suspicious activity:
- Contact TIGTA to report the call at TIGTA’s website or call 800-366-4484.
- Report it to the Federal Trade Commission on FTC.gov.
- If you think you might owe taxes, contact a qualified tax professional or call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.
The path to simply filing your tax return is fraught with pitfalls and hazards. Identity thieves and con artists use state-of-the-art schemes and technology to defraud taxpayers. If you have any doubts or concerns based on any alleged communication such as a suspicious phone call or email alleging it is from the IRS, contact a qualified tax professional to safeguard your personal information and complete the filing of this year’s tax return. If you have any question about taxes, call THE TAX EXPERTS at the Thorgood Law Firm www.thorgoodlaw.com. For a FREE consultation call 212-490-0704.
