Smart Money Choice$

This is the time of year when the IRS is sending out notices not only regarding Tax Rebates, but also on discrepancies relating to tax returns filed in April. The scammers are taking advantage of the timing.

The latest scheme involves a tax refund form that is sent via email, supposedly by the Taxpayer Advocate Service (a real organization within the IRS that assists taxpayers with unresolved problems). This one is especially blatant in the type of information it requests.

At the bottom of the message is a phony name and signature, claiming to be the Taxpayer Advocate. The idea is that you fill in the form and submit it directly to the Taxpayer Advocate to receive a tax refund.

Of course, the only way to get a tax refund (or the Economic Incentive Rebate this year) is to file your annual tax return. Refunds are not issued with the use of a separate application form. And the IRS sends notices via US Postal Service, not email.

So, if you receive this bogus message, be assured that it is a scam and simply delete it.

Another scam circulating is less obvious. In fact, I actually received one of these emails in my inbox recently. It’s supposedly from the US Tax Court.

This message is what’s called “Spear Phishing,” which is an email spoofing attempt that targets a specific organization. Again, this is a scam. The Tax Court is not sending any email notices to anyone, whether they currently have a case before the Tax Court or not.

You can identify this fake email because it will have the words “US Tax Petition” in the subject line, along with a fake docket number. The sender address is noreply@ustaxcourt.org.

If you get one of these messages, DO NOT reply or click through on any of the links. Just delete it. And have no fear. If either the IRS or the Tax Court wants to contact you, they’ll send you a letter in the regular mail.

You can get more information on these scams straight from the government websites:

www.ustaxcourt.gov
www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=155682,00.html

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR OWN BLOG OR E-ZINE? You have permission to re-publish it, as long as you include the following author’s bio and link:

Gabrielle Fontaine, PB is a freelance Professional Bookkeeper and Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. She specializes in assisting Internet-savvy entrepreneurs to get control of their books and maximize profits. Gabrielle also publishes the business-boosting online ezine, Smart Money Choices. Get more information at http://BookkeepingDirect.com

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