Annually the Internal Revenue Service publishes the Dirty Dozen. It’s a collection of the biggest tax scams currently occurring in the country.
The top four heading this year’s list are…
1 – Phishing and Smishing Scams
Fraudsters can be relentless in their attempts to steal your personal information. Thieves will impersonate the IRS, ask you to click on a suspicious link, to fill out personal information, and to then download something that’s nothing more than malware onto your machine. This information is then used to steal identities, establish loans, and claim fraudulent income tax refunds.
It should be noted that the IRS will only contact you by mail. They don’t make telephone calls or send emails. If you are contacted in such a manner, either hang up or delete the email.
2 – Employee Retention Credit Scams
It’s hard to believe that this is still happening. I’m still receiving emails promoting ERC Claims every week.
The IRS stopped processing new ERC Claims last October. If your amended 941 X was received by the Service prior to their moratorium, then it either was or is still being processed.
The program isn’t open anymore. Period. End of story. Fahgetabadit. If you missed the boat I’m sorry, but please don’t be fooled into believing that it’s still operating.
3 – Helpful Scammers Offering To Set Up IRS Accounts
The Internal Revenue Service began opening online accounts a few years ago in an attempt to bolster customer service. These accounts can be used to provide convenient access to a person’s tax information or to file a claim.
Fraudsters began “helping” people set up these accounts so that they could get the information necessary to file fraudulent claims and steal income tax refunds. If you would like to have one of these accounts, please to set it up yourself.
4 – Fuel Tax Credit Scams
The Fuel Tax Credit is available only to off-highway businesses and farming concerns. Regular citizens not involved in these businesses cannot legally claim the credit.
Fraudsters are now selling these “credits”. They set up what looks like a legitimate business that could establish the credits, say that they are transferable, and sell them at inflated prices. When claimed by individuals, they are red-flagged in the IRS System, and audited.
Don’t fall into these traps.
Let me leave you with this.
The top four of this year’s Dirty Dozen all come down to one thing.
Trust.
Who do you trust with your most sensitive information? Who do you trust to help you with your tax returns and accounting needs? These can be hard questions.
What happens if you have an accountant who’s been great for the past twenty years, but now doesn’t return your calls, or do anything on time?
What happens when you look at your tax returns, don’t know what you’re looking at, but somewhere deep inside know that you didn’t make all of that money? What happens when you then call your accountant and they can’t explain what’s happening on the return?
What happens if your accountant becomes too old or sickly to properly do the job? What happens if your accountant just plain sucks?
No one should be forced to stay in any bad professional relationship. Thank God we live in a country like America, where we can make informed choices.
If you find yourself in any of these situations, please contact us today. Believe it or not, there are people left in the accounting industry who can be trusted.
We’re all going to get through this. Let’s get through it together.
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Accounting Solutions Ltd. stands ready to complete our mission and purpose of protecting you, your family, and your business. Whether you need Payroll Services, or Accounting and Tax Work, you have but to ask. I’m here and I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Chris Amundson
President
Accounting Solutions Ltd.
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