Protect Your Tax Refund From Scammers

March 14, 2022

Tax season is underway which means scammers are after your refunds.

The biggest scam to watch out for this tax season is the impersonation scams. This is where scammers send you a text, email, or call you pretending to be with the IRS. Remember the IRS does not take these actions to get a hold of you and demand immediate payments. Instead, the agency will send you a letter.

Remember do not click on any links or provide any information as scammers are trying to get as much personal and financial information to possibly file a return and steal your refund. If you’re asked to pay in gift cards, wire money, or pay through a cash app, those are all red flags.

“Besides these impersonation scams, you also need to watch out for fake tax preparers.” CPA Aradhana Aggarwal said,.”A lot of these scammers will claim that they can get you faster refunds, they can get your returns processed faster, and they can get you the highest refund. So whenever you get that, just make sure that those tax preparers are legitimate.”

To make sure your tax preparer can file returns, check on IRS.GOV as every preparer needs to have a preparer tax identification number (PTIN). To protect your return, make sure the tax preparer signs your return and doesn’t sign an incomplete return. If you’re getting a refund, make sure it’s listed to go into your bank account, not the tax preparers.

View ABC11 Eyewitness News video ‘Tax Season Is Underway Which Means Scammers Are After Your Refunds‘ below.

Source: ABC11 Eyewitness News

Recent Posts

When To Worry If Your Tax Refund Is DelayedApril 22, 2024 - 6:55 pm
The IRS used some of its $80 billion in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to hire thousands of new employees and improve its automated systems, which reduced the backlog significantly. But some returns can still take a while to process. If you’re still waiting for your tax refund, there is some information you need to know.
Can’t Pay Or File Your Taxes By April 15? Here’s What Happens If You Missed Monday’s DeadlineApril 15, 2024 - 9:35 pm
Failing to file on time when you still owe taxes will subject you to a failure-to-file penalty, which is based on how late your return is and the amount of your unpaid tax . You will also be hit with a failure-to-pay penalty. The good news is you still have time to rectify those situations before you’re penalized.
Four Must-Dos Before Tax Season Wraps UpApril 8, 2024 - 8:39 pm
It’s gratifying to close the books on tax season. But before you do, there are just few things you might want to take care of while you’re still on the tax zone.
Don’t Like Your 2024 Tax Refund? Here’s An Easy Way To Get A Bigger One Next YearApril 1, 2024 - 8:58 pm
It’s fairly simple to make your tax refund bigger or smaller each year: It takes just a few minutes, once you have the paperwork in hand. The IRS even bakes the process into one simple step on its tax forms.
How To Reduce Capital Gains Taxes And Save MoneyMarch 26, 2024 - 1:04 am
There are various tactics and techniques investors can employ to reduce their capital gains taxes effectively. From tax-loss harvesting to utilizing retirement accounts and charitable giving strategies, actionable methods can help save money and optimize tax outcomes.
Student Loan Forgiveness Email Scams: How To Detect It And Avoid It?March 18, 2024 - 9:07 pm
From suspicious calls to deceptive emails and text messages, student loan forgiveness scams can come in various forms. There are ways, however, you can identify and avoid these scams along with steps to take if you believe you’ve been targeted.
Answers To 15 Common Tax QuestionsMarch 11, 2024 - 9:11 pm
This is the time of the year people are searching for free tax help they can trust, trying to squeeze out more valuable deductions, hoping to avoid penalties or audits, eagerly awaiting their refunds or wanting to make sure they aren’t victims of tax scams. Read on for answers to the most common tax questions.
2024 Tax Refund Schedule: When Will You Get Your Payments This Tax Season?March 4, 2024 - 8:48 pm
The IRS has been processing tax returns more quickly this year. It’s important to note, however, that the IRS Tax Refund Schedule 2024 lists additional conditions that may affect the timing of tax refunds, including how quickly you submit and whether you are seeking certain credits.