Posts by Ruth Ann Michnay, P.A.

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #8: Spearphishing and Cybersecurity for TaxProfessionals and Businesses (Part B)SIDE-STEP SPEARPHISHING: CYBER SECURITY TIPS FOR TAX PROS AND BUSINESSESPhishing is a term given to emails or text messages designed to get users to providepersonal information, either directly or by clicking on a link or attachment. Spearphishingis a tailored phishing…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #8:  Spearphishing and Cybersecurity for Tax Professionals and Businesses (Part A) The Internal Revenue Service warned tax professionals and businesses that they remain a top target for identity thieves and face threats from common scams on this year’s Dirty Dozen list. As part of the annual Dirty Dozen tax scams effort,…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #7:  Social Media:  Fraudulent Forms Filing and Bad Advice (Part C) The IRS is aware of various filing season hashtags and social media topics leading to inaccurate and potentially fraudulent information. The central theme involves people trying to use legitimate tax forms for the wrong reason. How taxpayers can…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #7:  Social Media:  Fraudulent Forms Filing and Bad Advice (Part B) The IRS is aware of various filing season hashtags and social media topics leading to inaccurate and potentially fraudulent information. The central theme involves people trying to use legitimate tax forms for the wrong reason. Here are just…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #7:  Social Media:  Fraudulent Forms Filing and Bad Advice (Part A) Social media can circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, and the IRS has recently seen several examples. These can involve common tax documents like Form W-2 or more obscure ones, like Form 8944 that’s aimed at a very…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #6:  Unscrupulous Tax Return Preparers  (Part B) People should be careful of shady tax professionals and watch for common warning signs, including charging a fee based on the size of the refund. Some “ghost” tax preparers refuse to sign the tax return or ask people to sign a blank…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #6:  Unscrupulous Tax Return Preparers  (Part A) People should be careful of shady tax professionals and watch for common warning signs, including charging a fee based on the size of the refund. Some “ghost” tax preparers refuse to sign the tax return or ask people to sign a blank…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #5:  Fake charities Bogus charities are a perennial problem that gets bigger whenever a crisis or natural disaster strikes. Scammers set up these fake organizations to take advantage of the public’s generosity. They seek money and personal information, which can be used to further exploit victims through identity theft.…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #4:  False Fuel Tax Credit Claims “People should watch out for erroneous fuel tax credit claims and the scammers that promote them,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “These scammers will often charge a hefty fee for these bogus claims, and participants also face the possibility of identity theft. This…

IRS 2023 Dirty Dozen – Scam #3:  Online Account Help from Third-Party Scammers The Internal Revenue Service alerts taxpayers to watch out for scammers who try to sell or offer help setting up an Online Account on IRS.gov that puts their tax and financial information at risk of identity theft. The IRS Online Account provides…