Q: How can I avoid tax scams?
Seeing an
Illinois tax return preparation attorney rather than trusting the important job to a national tax return preparation chain or attempting to tackle it yourself has multiple benefits. Perhaps the most obvious one is the confidence that comes from having an attorney's legal background in tax law standing behind your return.
This year more than ever, it's important to trust your tax return preparation to a professional who is up to speed on the many changes enacted by the late year passage of the tax reform bill. By understanding the tax reform changes, an attorney can advise you how the law impacts your particular situation-- and what adjustments are recommended for you to use the new laws to your best advantage.
In addition to the confidence in the tax preparation itself, having an attorney prepare your taxes comes with the added security of having a
tax audit attorney on your side from the start in the event anything needs clarification. Of course, tax audit and tax appeals services are available for those who had their returns prepared elsewhere.
Not only is it important to know the new tax rules, but it's important to know and avoid the new scams this tax season.
According to the IRS, both taxpayers and tax preparers have been targeted by scammers.
Very often, tax scams begin with cybercriminals stealing taxpayer’s personal data. They can accomplish this through scams duping individuals as well as by targeting tax preparers through "phishing emails that can secretly download malicious software" from which the taxpayer’s data can then be retrieved.
Once stolen, how cybercriminals use the data can evolve into different types of scams. For example, the cybercriminals can use someone's personal data to file a fraudulent tax return. A brazen new scam reportedly directs the fraudulent refund to be deposited into the taxpayer victim’s actual bank account but thereafter, "a woman posing as a debt collection agency official" notifies the taxpayer that the deposit was made in error and directs the taxpayer to forward the money to her.In addition to keeping your personal data secure and your guard up for suspicious activities or emails, other red flags of possible tax fraud can include receipt of a tax refund or tax transcript you neither requested nor expected. If it feels to good to be true, it likely is—or if it feels like something’s not right, it probably isn’t.
If you would like
peace of mind of having your tax return prepared by a skilled tax attorney, The Law Office of Thomas J. Hansen can help you with any tax form you may need.
Contact us today to request a consultation.
From our office in Park Ridge, we represent clients throughout Illinois as well as out of state in all tax law and estate planning matters.