Protect Yourself from Tax Scams

by Samantha Pahlow, CTFA
Senior Vice President

Each year, the IRS issues its annual “Dirty Dozen.” This is a list of top scams that taxpayers should be aware of, along with information on how to spot, avoid and report them. It includes common fraud, from phishing and phone scams attempting to steal information or money, to more complex tax avoidance and tax shelter schemes that are illegal. 

There has been an increasing occurrence of phone and email scams attempting to solicit personal and financial information from taxpayers or extort funds, by posing as an IRS or government agent. The IRS generally does not contact taxpayers by phone and email about taxes owed or for their personal information. If you receive a suspicious email or phone call, you should not disclose any personal information nor send money. Instead, contact the IRS directly using the contact information provided on the IRS website.  

This link will direct you to the IRS news release for the complete list and additional detail and guidance on each scam. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your tax professional or portfolio manager.

Disclosure:
The link listed above was not published by Ferguson Wellman or West Bearing.  We do not take any responsibility for reviewing, updating or insuring accuracy of information included on this webpage. Ferguson Wellman and West Bearing disclaim responsibility for the legality of materials and copyright compliance on other publications or websites. This is provided for informational purposes only.

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