April 2023 – Be Aware of Tax Scams
BE AWARE OF TAX SCAMS
As we approach April 18th, we wanted to reach out to you with a few guidelines for distinguishing between legitimate IRS correspondence and scams. Unfortunately, tax scams often increase during this time of year. As a result, personal information has been compromised and millions of dollars have been lost by individuals who have fallen victim to these scams.
Common scams include emails and phone calls impersonating the IRS. These scams often are phishing for sensitive personal information, either directly or by infecting computers with malware. Scammers have even created websites that resemble that of the IRS in an effort to solicit sensitive information from taxpayers.
Other scammers have turned to threats, warning of serious action if immediate payment is not made. Common threats include tax liens on your property, revoking your driver’s license, or even arrest.
Please note that the IRS will rarely threaten these serious consequences on initial contact.
IRS “Dirty Dozen”
Each year, the IRS publishes a list of common scams called the “IRS Dirty Dozen” to help raise awareness and warn taxpayers about common scams. For 2022, this list included scams surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as well as schemes related to suspicious communications.
– The pandemic schemes included economic stimulus payment theft, unemployment fraud, social media impersonation, and fake charities. These tactics are used to steal money and identities of victims. Rule of thumb: Verify everything through a trusted website such as IRS.gov.
– The suspicious communications scams involved tax-related phishing tactics through email, social media, text messages, and phone calls. Victims are tricked into providing sensitive personal information that can lead to the victim’s monetary and identity theft. Rule of thumb: If you are surprised or scared by a call or text, it could be a scam.
In summary, the IRS urges taxpayers to exercise caution and be aware of these scams.
HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE
The primary form of communication from the IRS is through the United States Postal Service. The IRS will never do the following when contacting you:
– The IRS will not email you.
– The IRS will not text you.
– The IRS will not request personal information through social media or other online platforms.
HOW TO RESPOND
If you receive a suspicious IRS-related email, there are several actions you can take to avoid falling victim to the scam:
– Do not reply to the email.
– Do not open any attachments in the email or click on any links.
– Delete the original email.
If you receive a suspicious IRS-related phone call, there are similar actions you can take:
– Ask for the caller’s IRS badge number and name. If they cannot provide this, it is likely a scam.
– Regardless of a badge number, do not provide any information. Hang up.
Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns regarding suspicious calls or emails you receive.
HOW TO VIEW YOUR INFORMATION & STAY IN TOUCH
The best way to stay updated regarding IRS news is through the IRS’s official social media accounts or email subscriptions.
– The IRS’s social media platforms include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. While the IRS will not contact you through these platforms, these are helpful to follow for regular updates from the IRS.
– The IRS also has a free app called IRS2Go, where taxpayers can check their refund status, make payments, and sign up for helpful tax tips.
You can also view your tax account information online at IRS.gov to review your tax status, and call an IRS representative using the appropriate phone number if you have questions regarding the legitimacy of the correspondence. A list of official IRS phone numbers can be found here. If you would like to report the scam to the IRS, you can forward the email or details of the call to [email protected].
If you receive correspondence from the IRS and have questions, we can help you determine if the correspondence is legitimate. Please reach out to us with any questions you may have regarding IRS correspondence and tax scams.
2022 Filing Deadlines
APRIL 18, 2023 – Federal and state income tax returns are due for individual taxpayers, C-Corporations, and Estates and Trusts
SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 – Federal and state income tax returns are due for flow-through entities, including partnerships and S-Corporations if extended
OCTOBER 2, 2023 – Federal and state income tax returns are due for trusts if extended
OCTOBER 16, 2023 – Federal and state income tax returns are due for individual taxpayers, and C-Corporations if extended
Estimated Payment Deadlines
APRIL 18, 2023 – 1st quarter estimated payments for 2023 are due to the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue
JUNE 15, 2023 – 2nd quarter estimated payments for 2023 are due to the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue
SEPTEMBER 15, 2023 – 3rd quarter estimated payments for 2023 are due to the IRS and Colorado Department of Revenue
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: JACQUELINE CORCORAN
Jacqueline joined the Soukup, Bush & Associates team in September of 2022. She grew up in Maryland for most of her life and moved to Colorado in 2021, where she is attending school for her Bachelors in Accounting. She currently assists with all aspects of the administrative position as well as processing both individual and corporate income tax returns.
When she is not at work, you can find Jacqueline biking, hiking, painting, cooking and spending time with her boyfriend and their cat, Howard.