Tax Day’s coming up
If you did your taxes, a gold star for you. And if you have not done your taxes, April 15 is a week and a half away. Sorry for the jump scare.
That’s still plenty of time to file if you haven’t yet … and plenty of time to get ripped off if you have. I’ve got your back with a last-minute checklist to avoid getting screwed by the IRS — or post-file scammers.
If you’ve been a slacker … You still have options! Filing online is your best bet.
- File direct if you qualify: The IRS now offers Direct File in 12 states: AZ, CA, FL, MA, NV, NH, NY, SD, TN, TX, WA and WY. If you qualify, you can file your taxes online, for free, directly with the IRS.
- Otherwise, stick to an online filing service: TurboTax and H&R Block offer free plans, but — fair warning — if you want extras like audit and fraud protection, expect to pay over $100.
Need more time? File for an extension through the IRS’ Free File site. Anyone is eligible, regardless of income level or filing status. Request an extension through Form 4868 and you’ll buy yourself until Oct. 15 (an extra six months!).
💡 Pro tip: An extension to file is not an extension to pay taxes. You’ll still need to estimate your tax liability and pay before April 15. You can submit estimated taxes on your online portal here!
Can’t pay? If you owe Uncle Sam and can’t pay your entire balance by April 15, your best bet to avoid penalties is to set up a payment plan with the IRS.
If you’ve already filed … Go you! But you’re not in the clear yet. Watch out for:
- Bogus “unclaimed refund” mailings: These letters arrive in a cardboard envelope with a notice about “your unclaimed refund.” They look legit and even have an IRS logo, but the contact information and phone number listed are fake.
- Phishing emails from the TAP: These emails look like they’re from the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel. They try to fool you into giving up personal and financial information to claim your refund. If you get one of these, don’t respond or click — forward it straight to phishing@irs.gov.
- Phony “fixers”: aka anyone who claims they can settle your tax debt for “pennies-on-the-dollar.” These “OIC Mills” work through the IRS’ Offer in Compromise program, then charge you thousands of dollars for info you can find for free. Most of the people they target don’t even meet the program requirements. FYI: You can see if you meet the OIC requirements here.
Track your real refund on the IRS’ Where’s My Refund page. You’ll need your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number, filing status and the exact refund amount on your return to check your status.
😏 My accountant just quit on me … Guess she lost interest.
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