subject: Choosing The Right Tax Consultant Be Prepared [print this page] IRS Commissioner Douglas Schulman has informed the public that the IRS is not doing outreach due to its workload. Therefore, any e-mails from the IRS in your inbox are definitely a scam and it is your duty to report it. Always verify that you are giving sensitive information to a legitimate source. As reported by the IRS, phishing e-mails from scam artists pretending to be from the agency are most popular, and as the tax season winds down scam artists will be hard at work.
The IRS never sends e-mails! First contact is by mail and then by phone if necessary. If you are ever contacted by the IRS, be sure to get a good tax consultant who will keep you away from IRS tax problems. Regulating tax preparers is scheduled to begin next year, but it has always been the taxpayers personal responsibility to find a good tax consultant and to checking for any signs of fraud.
There are some red flags that can help you to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, or even worse finding yourself being fined or confined to prison. It is a given fact that most people dont enjoy paying taxes. However, it is a non-negotiable by law, and must be paid. It is always easier to pay what is due to avoid complications in the future.
One red flag for poor preparation is if the tax preparer claims that you can get an unusually large refund. Get a second and maybe a third opinion for comparison, just to be sure. The new tax laws will provide many areas for doubts and many will need good tax consultants to embrace the changes. If the preparer's fee is based on a percentage of the refund, know that this is illegal. Per IRS guidelines, A practitioner may not charge a contingent fee (percentage of your refund) for preparing an original tax return. And remember to never sign a blank form or to sign in pencil.
Reputable tax consultants ask for receipts and facts to determine what deductions are appropriate for you. They will not encourage you to believe falsehoods about voluntary filing or that the government will always do it for you if you don't file your taxes. In the end, you will have to pay taxes or negotiate an IRS tax settlement.
Scam artists will see the changes that are taking effect at the IRS as an opportunity to find new ways to defraud taxpayers. Some tax consultants may try to encourage you to defraud the IRS. If you suspect fraud, call 800-829-1040 or visit the IRS your Web site at http://www.irs.gov.
by: taxco
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
