Tax Time Guide: Protect personal, financial and tax information

The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers to protect the security of their personal, financial and tax information. Con artists use scams and schemes to steal personal information and money from unsuspecting victims, particularly during tax time. This news release is part of a series called the Tax Time Guide, a resource to help taxpayers […]

IRS’ 2019 ‘Dirty Dozen’ tax scams list highlights inflating deductions, credits

The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers to avoid falsely inflating deductions or credits on tax returns as part of its 2019 list of the “Dirty Dozen” tax scams. Taxpayers should watch for areas frequently targeted by unscrupulous tax preparers include overstating deductions such as charitable contributions, medical expenses, padding business expenses or falsely claiming […]

Filing season tips for employers and employees

Read and be aware of the IRS-identified Dirty Dozen tax schemes Identity theft remains at the top of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen tax scheme list for 2019. Despite a steep drop in tax-related ID theft in recent years, the IRS last week warned taxpayers that the scam remains serious enough to earn a spot on […]

Tax reform changes to fringe benefit deductions affect business’s bottom line

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act includes tax law changes that affect businesses and the 2018 tax returns they file this year. One change is to fringe benefit deductions, which can affect both a business’s bottom line and its employees’ deductions. Here is a rundown of these changes: Transportation fringe benefits The new law disallows […]

Be on the lookout for promises of inflated tax refunds

The Internal Revenue Service warned taxpayers today to be alert to unscrupulous tax return preparers boasting of inflated tax refunds, a common scam tactic during filing season. Return preparers promising larger refunds than competitors or providing refunds substantially larger than taxpayers have routinely seen could be a warning sign. The IRS has included this scheme […]

Taxpayers must report health care coverage on 2018 tax return

As taxpayers are completing their 2018 tax returns this year, they must complete the lines related to health care. For tax year 2018, the IRS will not consider a return complete and accurate if individuals do not do one of the following on their return: Report full-year health coverage Claim a coverage exemption Report and […]

Identity theft remains on IRS’ ‘Dirty Dozen’ list despite progress

Despite a steep drop in tax-related identity theft in recent years, the Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers that the scam remains serious enough to earn a spot on the agency’s 2019 “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams. “Taxpayers should continue to protect their sensitive tax and financial data to help protect against identity thieves,” […]