Tax scams to watch out for this season: Part 1

If you have yet to file your tax return for the 2012 fiscal year, you still have time to enlist the aid of a tax professional. Recently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a press release regarding some of the most common tactics that unscrupulous individuals may use to take advantage of lawful taxpayers who seek advice regarding their financial obligation to the state and federal government.

Over the years, the Internal Revenue Service has increased its oversight of tax preparers who  intentional advise and prepare false tax returns or otherwise harm taxpayers, such as, collecting their refunds.   According to the IRS, tax preparer fraud may be a concern for many this season, so it is essential to ensure that the professional you enlist is properly certified and vetted. Earlier this year, the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) also touched on this issue, releasing a list of warning signs that could indicate that a tax preparer is not all that they seem.

But, that isn’t the only method by which an individual may get a hold of your personal information at this time. The IRS also warns that phishing scams are also a potential threat.   “Phishing is a scam typically carried out with the help of unsolicited email or a fake website that poses as a legitimate site to lure in potential victims and prompt them to provide valuable personal and financial information,” the press release states. ”  Therefore, do not open any email you receive that states it is from the IRS.

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