A Warning for the Beginning of Tax Season

             With a new Tax Season set to begin, we need to remember to take steps to protect ourselves from scam artists and criminals. For a certainty, they are adjusting and preparing to attempt to capture your personal information. We need to be aware of their current tactics and remain vigilant. Here are some basic points to keep in mind.

          One common trick that they use is to make a phone call and impersonate a Franchise Tax Board (FTB) or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee demanding a tax payment. If these agencies need to confirm details with you, the first step is always a letter mailed through the United States Postal Service. If a call is necessary, the employee will identify themselves, be courteous, and never demand immediate payment. They will never threaten to call the police, ask for gift cards, or try to find out your banking information. These are the hallmarks of criminal activity. If you receive a call like this, just hang up.

          Something else to consider is who you choose to prepare your tax filing. Many of you are very discerning and ask very specific questions when searching for a Qualified Tax Professional. This is a good quality to have. Make sure that the person you choose will sign the tax return as the preparer. It is their responsibility to do so. If they try to get you to sign it and refuse to do it themselves, this is a red flag. This is a tactic of what are known as Ghost Preparers. The taxpayer is responsible for everything submitted to the IRS and FTB, but if someone was paid to prepare the documents, they must sign them as well.

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