The IRS has issued a warning to taxpayers who receive emails claiming to be from the agency.
“Scammers use the IRS name or logo to make the message appear authentic so you will respond to it,” the warning reads, adding that the tactic is actually “phishing” -- attempting to trick recipients into revealing personal and financial information, which can lead to ID theft.
The agency advises recipients of e-mails claiming to be from the IRS that they should not:
- Reply to the message;
- Open attachments; or,
- Click on any links in a suspicious e-mail or phishing Web site or enter confidential information.
The IRS, which has long warned about phony sites, also points out that it does not initiate contact with taxpayers by e-mail or social media channels to request personal or financial information or ask for detailed personal and financial information such as PINs, passwords or similar access information for credit card, bank or other financial accounts.
“Do not be misled by sites claiming to be the IRS but ending in .com, .net, .org or anything other than .gov,” the warning adds. “If you discover a Web site that claims to be the IRS but you suspect it is bogus, do not provide any personal information on their site and report it to the IRS. If you receive a phone call, fax or letter in the mail from an individual claiming to be from the IRS but you suspect they are not an IRS employee, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.”
The service has also set up sites to help taxpayers and preparers report phishing and protect identity information, and has posted multi-language YouTube videos on phishing malware and self-protection against ID theft. Podcasts in English and Spanish also cover the topic.
7 Comments
This is in reply to SNAFU - I am encouraged by your stand to do right by your clients according to the IRS tax laws, whether it is popular or not. It is your responsibility to follow the tax laws, and you will be held accountable for your actions. I feel sorry for those who would sell out for a couple of dollars, and then look over their shoulder for the next 7 years, wondering if the IRS is going to do a random audit on them. Honesty is always the best policy. You may have lost a couple of clients, but you have retained your integrity. May God bless you for your honesty!
Posted by: StAlice | February 26, 2013 9:08 AM
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I am a small business tax professional and have lost a lot of business this year due to the due diligence requirements. H&R does not require tax payers to provide information for verification of residency of their dependents who receive EITC therefore taxpayers who are being fraudulent go to H&R.
Posted by: DcD08 | February 25, 2013 11:40 AM
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In respnse to:beethovenl
I know exactly how you feel! The sooner you get out, the better you will feel. You will actually enjoy preparing taxes when you know you are really helping Tax Payers and not just take them for as much money as you can! Good luck! This just happened Last night an old client came back after having gone to H&R the past two years for the "anticipation Refund Scam" She gave me her last year return and, right of the bat, I saw they had made a mistake. The wife, who is in her early forty's, receives SS disability and our state, if you are disabled, lets you subtract a maximum of $8000.00 of your appropriated income( which usually happens when the husband has a good job and part of the SS becomes taxable), from you state return. H&R missed that deduction both years! I told her they needed to go back and make H&R amend both returns and get them some money back! She said she would because (are you ready for it???) they had paid "Insurance" in case the preparer made a mistake! I will let you know how soon, if ever, H&R will honor what they assured her would be covered by the "Insurance" she paid.
Posted by: SNAFU | February 25, 2013 11:26 AM
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In my opinion - and from past experience correcting their mistakes - they should re-name their company H&R Blockheads. Can't believe the insane fees they charge for simple returns. My fees are probably 20% of what theirs are. And Jackson-Puke-it isn't much better.
Posted by: Snick | February 25, 2013 10:08 AM
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I totally agree about H&R Block. Even more with the new page four of the EIC which states we must keep on file documentation for three years used to verify eligibility such as residency and Sch. C income or face a $500 fine. A current long time employee of H&R works in our office doing Quickbooks data entry and she told us that they are not keeping any documents. It is just not fair to the preparers that do not have deep pockets. The government could put a dent in the deficit at $500 per return if they audited H&R offices for compliance.
Posted by: BARBARA R | February 25, 2013 9:36 AM
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Replying to the bogus e-mails, I have had 2 phishing e-mails claiming they are from the IRS
My response to SNAFU, I work at H&R and i hate it there. I see through what their own agenda is--money.They also treat people there terrible. Intuit has taken their business away because people can have their taxes done cheaper than what H&R are charging. I don't think that place cares and or would stand by their clients. Hopefully to be out sooner than later.
Posted by: beethovenl | February 25, 2013 8:48 AM
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This is in response to: radtaxer from Friday's article I was too busy then to answer but I feel it is important that I do, so I am taking time out on Sunday to do it.
No, it is not a cheap shot! What was the TP supposed to tell the manager had he called him/her? "Excuse me, but your preparer is not asking me enough questions about my kids? SERIOUSELY????
Let me tell you a true story:
One of my clients got very upset two years ego over the eligibility of the Energy Credit. As we all know, everyone can qualify for the credit s long as they follow the Federal Guidelines on material they use do the expenditures that allows the credit. My client came to me and informed me she wanted the Energy Credit because she had a new roof put on her house. I asked the questions I was supposed to ask regarding the material of the shingles that had been used to replace the roof and, unfortunately she did not purchase the right shingles. When I told her she did not qualify for the credit she became very upset and informed me that the only reason her and her mother in law had their roofs replaced was because of the Energy Credit. She went on to tell me that her mother in law had already gone to get her taxes prepared by H&R and had had not trouble with getting the credit and no one had asked so many questions. Actually the preparer did not ask any questions about the roof at all! She also assured me the store where the shingles were purchased and the contractor who had worked on the roof had both assured her that everything she bought would qualify for the credit. I asked her if the Store had given her a certificate stating it all qualified for the energy credit she told me they had not but, she would call them from my office and have them confirm to me that the material qualified. I had not objection to that so I had her call the store and she was told that the shingles she had purchased did not qualify for the energy credit. Of course I prepared her return and did not give her the credit. She knew why I did not give her the credit but both she and her husband were still very upset because H&R had given their mother the credit for the same material and I had not.. These clients had been coming to me for years but guess what? They did not come back the following year or the year after that and I know it is because of the Energy Credit I would not give them. For all I know they took the return I had prepared to H&R and got the credit anyway. And the next year they couldn't face me. These are very honest people but leave it to H&R to make them think they can get something they re not entitle to and that an honest tax preparer is cheating them of it! So, don't talk to me about cheap shots or what H&R does or does not do. I also, in the 70s, worked for H&R and I am talking from first hand experience. Do you really think H&R is worried abut the mistakes the TP makes that cause penalties? SERIOSELY??? They don't even take care of the mistakes they make! H&R lost the cash cow when they had to stop giving the "Refund anticipation Loans" where they charged 48% in interest. Yes 48%! I know that for a fact. I saw the paperwork they gave my doctor's nurse who was stupid enough to go for it and did not realize what they were charging until I showed to her! H&R is not all about questions, H & R is all about money! Maybe where you worked you did not care enough to figure out how the TP were getting overcharged or charged for things they should not be charged, I paid attention and all I could take of that was two years! They had their way in the 70s and they have their way now! Unless you are working for another Tax Store, Do you really not see a difference, at lest in charges, between regular, honest tax preparers and H&R?
Posted by: SNAFU | February 25, 2013 8:20 AM
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