As the filing deadline is approaching and we’re headed down the final stretch of tax season, most Americans are fed up with the stresses of dealing with the IRS and have not gotten much help in return. As if this period is not stressful enough, American taxpayers must not let their guard down when it comes to IRS and other tax scams. These potentially costly scams have been running rampant for quite some time now, and the best thing a taxpayer can do to protect themselves is by learning what these scammers are doing, and how they are doing it.
Tips & Tricks for Detection
There are several reasons the IRS is targeted by scammers and other cybercriminals. One of these reasons is that the IRS casts a very wide net of potential scamming victims. Most working Americans have to deal with the IRS at least once a year, which gives criminals a big selection of people to target. Another reason the IRS is targeted so much is that scammers like to take advantage of the confusion of tax season. These scammers are aware that filing for certain credit and tax write-offs can be intimidating at times, and that it may cause enough confusion for even the most cautious taxpayers to slip up.
Luckily, there are certain things the IRS will never say to a taxpayer or send a taxpayer. Identifying these things will be a great help in preventing any potential scams in the future.
- The IRS will never initiate contact with a taxpayer by email.
- The IRS will never call a taxpayer on the phone.
- The IRS will never visit a taxpayer’s home or place of work.
- The IRS will never demand immediate payment without informing the taxpayer of their right to contest any bill.
- The IRS will never demand a specific payment method without first mailing an official bill.
- The IRS will never threaten taxpayers with arrest, deportation, fines (different than penalties), and other criminal charges because they are simply not allowed.
The last few days before the April deadline prove to be stressful for taxpayers and the IRS alike. If you think you may be the target of an IRS scam, give your accountant a call. Tax experts have run-ins with the IRS daily and should be able to tell you if the information you are receiving is legitimate or not.