Prevent 2017 Tax Scams

Fortunately, the IRS has stepped up efforts to combat this, and it seems to be working so far. In fact, its recently improved early detection system enabled the IRS to identify 35,000 fraudulent returns in the first couple months of 2016’s tax season and prevented the issuance of $193.8 million in fraudulent refunds.

Despite the IRS’ best efforts, there is still the chance that your identity will be used to file a fraudulent return. And many people don’t realize they’re a victim until their actual tax return is rejected by the IRS — since it only accepts one return per Social Security number.

While this scam is not totally avoidable, there are some ways you can lower your risk. First and foremost, try to file your tax return as soon as you’re able to do so. As I mentioned, the IRS only accepts one tax return per Social Security number, so if you file yours, it makes it impossible for a crook to file another with your information.

Also, to prevent yourself from becoming a victim in future tax years, it’s important to develop and use good habitsOpens a New Window. with your identifying information. For example, only use your Social Security number when it’s absolutely necessary, check your credit report regularly for suspicious activity, and don’t throw papers with sensitive information like your Social Security number or bank account information in the trash.

Phone scams

One of the most rampant type of tax scam involves phony calls from “IRS agents.” Phone scams have cost victims over $23 million over the past few years, and that figure is likely to rise. In fact, just a few days before I wrote this article, I received a call from a tax scammer. My caller ID even said “IRS-IMPORTANT” when they called. Fortunately, I know better, and after reading this, so will you.

There are a few versions of this scam, but in general, the caller will claim to be an IRS agent and that you owe tax for one reason or another. For example, one variation involves the scammer claiming a “federal student tax” remains unpaid (which is true — because the tax doesn’t exist). Or, another variation involves the scammer telling the victim they are entitled to a huge refund in order to steal money and/or identifying information.

The good news is that phone scams are easy to avoid if you know a few simple rules. Specifically, the actual IRS will never:

• Call to demand immediate payment or call at all without first mailing you a bill
• Demand that you pay taxes without an opportunity to appeal or question the amount owed
• Require a specific payment method
• Ask for a credit/debit card number over the phone
• Threaten to have you arrested for not paying

If any of the following are true about an “IRS agent” who calls you, hang up immediately and report the scamOpens a New Window. to the IRS. Even if you think you might owe taxes, be safe — hang up anyway and call the IRS at (800) 829-1040. If you do owe tax, they’ll be happy to help you, and you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you’re talking to the right people.

RELATED: Largest Consumer Scams of 2016

Phishing scams

Last but certainly not least on the list of scams to watch out for in 2017 are phishing scams. The IRS saw an alarming 400% surge in phishing and malware incidents during the 2016 tax season, so it’s a safe bet they’ll continue to be a major problem.

For the most part, these are in the form of fake emails, but could also be sent as text messages. Whichever form they take, they’re designed to trick victims into thinking they come directly from the IRS. And these have gotten much more sophisticated over the years — some of the emails do look official, and may redirect you to a website that looks very similar to the official IRS website (irs.gov).

Like phone scams, these take a variety of forms. One popular variation of the phishing scam involves an email that appears to be from the IRS and takes you to a fake website designed to mimic the real IRS website and instructs you to “update your IRS e-file immediately” in order to steal personal information.

Also like phone scams, these are fairly easy to avoid if you know what to look for. To avoid becoming the next phishing tax-scam victim, keep these guidelines in mind:

• The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message, or social media. Period.
• The official IRS website is www.irs.gov and any legitimate IRS webpage will begin with irs.gov. Don’t be fooled by close variations (such as irsgov, irs.net, or similar).

If you do receive an email claiming to be from the IRS and you weren’t expecting one, don’t reply, click on any links, or open any attachments. Forward the email as is to phishing@irs.gov and delete the original email.

The best defense is to know what to look for

Phishing and phone scams can be easily avoided if you know what to look for, and the chance of a fraudulent return in your name can be greatly reduced by filing your return quickly and safeguarding your identifying information. Like many other types of scams, the best defense against tax scams is knowing what to look for.