5 Ways To Avoid The Recent Tax Scam!

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5 WAYS TO AVOID THE RECENT TAX SCAM

According to IRS.gov, The Internal Revenue Service issued a recent consumer alert  providing taxpayers with additional tips to protect themselves from telephone tax scam artists calling and pretending to be with the IRS.  Over the last eight months, this scam of individuals pretending to be IRS and calling taxpayers has been highlighted in the news.

These callers may demand money or tell you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing your  private information. These people are con artists and can sound very convincing when they call. They will have done their homework and will know a lot about you, and they will change the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. If you don’t answer, they often leave an “urgent” callback request.

“These telephone tax scams are being seen in every part of the country, and we urge people not to be deceived by these threatening phone calls,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “We have formal processes in place for people with tax issues. The IRS respects taxpayer rights, and these calls are not how we do business”, according to IRS.gov.

As much as the word has been put out about these scams, it is still happening to innocent people.   Here are five ways to decipher if the call is from scammers as IRS will not:

  1. Contact  you about taxes you owe without first mailing you an official notice.
  2. Require you to use their preferred payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
  3. Take down your credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  4. Scare you into believing  they will  bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
  5. Officially demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

 

If you get  that unlucky phone call from anyone stating  to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what I want you to do:

  • If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call your tax professional immediately.
  • If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration  at 1.800.366.4484 .
  • If you’ve been targeted by this tax scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” at FTC.gov. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.  This is important.

Remember, too, the IRS does not technologically advance to the point that they are able to use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue.  IRS will send you a letter or will may call you.  Remember at the end of the day you have the right to representation.  So, before you begin giving out your information, it is important that you get their information and then speak with your tax professional.

 

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As seen in Forbes Magazine, Karla Dennis is an expert tax and business strategist. As an enrolled agent, Karla is licensed to represent taxpayers in all 50 states. She holds a Masters in Taxation and Business Development and is the author of two books, Tax Storm and Against the Odds.


Karla, CEO of consultancy firm Karla Dennis And Associates, Inc.™, has saved her clients thousands of dollars and has been featured in various media outlets such as Forbes, MSNBC, KTLA, Yahoo! Finance, and SmartMoney, marking her as the ultimate tax expert.


As of 2014, Karla became the new host on the “Mind Your Business” radio show, KTLK AM 1150, sharing her financial and business knowledge with the greater Orange County and Los Angeles areas. As a supporter of women’s rights and issues, Karla is part of the Women Network, an organization built to educate and mentor women. In addition, Karla is the radio host for Women Network Radio, a show that aims to uplift and empower women of all walks of life.

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