Tax season isn’t until April, but tax scammers are already looking to take advantage of the upcoming tax season. Here are five quick tips to help avoiding tax scams this year:
- Be suspicious of anyone that says you must pay or face immediate foreclosure, seizure, jail time, or deportation. Tax scams tend to be very aggressive and attempt to scare you into giving them what they want.
- Be suspicious of anyone who calls you and asks your Social Security number over the phone. The IRS already has your information, so they shouldn’t need you to provide it. Even though the Caller ID may say “IRS” or “Washington, DC,” Caller ID can be faked.
- Instead of calling the phone number listed on the notice or talking to the person who just called you, find the tax department’s phone number on their website and call them directly. They will be able to confirm if you actually owe the tax. Even better, you will know for sure that you are actually talking to the REAL tax department instead of a fake.
- Don’t trust tax firms that strongly advertise that they can settle your old tax debts for “pennies on the dollar”. Most of these are referring to the “Offer in Compromise” program, which is freely available to all taxpayers at https://www.irs.gov/payments/offer-in-compromise. Many of these firms will charge a lot of money to help fill in the paperwork, whether you qualify or not.
- Don’t trust tax firms that promise big refunds or ask you to sign a blank return. These agencies are potentially trying to commit tax fraud.
A responsible tax firm will only promise to prepare the correct amount of tax you owe- no more, no less. If you are looking for a professional Clergy Tax preparer this tax season, visit our website at https://www.clergyfinancial.com/services/clergy-tax-preparation/ for more details.
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Clergy Financial Resources serves as a resource for clients to help analyze the complexity of clergy tax law, church payroll & HR issues. Our professionals are committed to helping clients stay informed about tax news, developments and trends in various specialty areas.
This article is intended to provide readers with guidance in tax matters. The article does not constitute, and should not be treated as professional advice regarding the use of any particular tax technique. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information. Clergy Financial Resources and the author do not assume responsibility for any individual’s reliance upon the information provided in the article. Readers should independently verify all information before applying it to a particular fact situation, and should independently determine the impact of any particular tax planning technique. If you are seeking legal advice, you are encouraged to consult an attorney.
For more information or if you need additional assistance, please use the contact information below.
Clergy Financial Resources
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