Still haven't filed? Avoid these last-minute tax scams
Tax Day is less than a week away. That’s right. You have until Monday, April 18.
Did you file federal tax income for 2018? If not, you may have a refund waiting to be claimed. The deadline for that is the same as the one to file your 2021 taxes. Tap or click here for more information on claiming what could be hundreds of dollars.
As the tax deadline approaches, scammers take advantage of people who waited until the last minute to file. We put together some scams to watch out for, along with tips to avoid falling victim.
Here’s the backstory
If you get a scary email from the IRS, don’t click any links or attempt to contact the sender. The IRS never initiates contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. Most of the correspondence from the IRS will come through snail mail via the United States Postal Service.
Cybersecurity company Proofpoint tweeted an example of an email with the subject line “RE: 2021 Tax Return.” It contains a malicious attachment:
More tax scams making the rounds
Have you received unsettling phone calls warning that you will be arrested if you don’t call back? The IRS and its collection agencies don’t call people to demand payment over the phone, nor do they accept gift cards.
While special circumstances may prompt a call from the IRS, you will receive several notices in the mail before this happens.
Your smartphone is a prime target for scammers during tax season. The IRS does not text taxpayers regarding any issues such as unpaid bills or refunds. You’ll only receive a text message to verify your identity to use IRS e-services. Text messages from IRS Password Service originate from 77958.
And any message you receive from social media claiming to be from the IRS is actually from a scammer.
3 surefire signs someone stole your identity
Your credit card information is valuable to scammers, but there is one thing that they desire the more: your personal information. Tap or click here to see 10 accounts more valuable to cybercriminals than your credit card.
3 reasons why you didn't get your COVID-19 stimulus check
Americans hoping for a windfall have endured a bit of a bumpy ride thanks to the less-than-ideal rollout of COVID-19 stimulus checks. Many people have already received their money by direct deposit, but a sizeable portion of taxpayers are still empty-handed — and the IRS isn’t exactly spelling out why.
Didn't get your stimulus money? What to do if your COVID-19 check went to the wrong account
Have you received your stimulus check yet? If not, you’re not alone. According to the IRS, millions of Americans should have already received their payments via direct deposit, but many people are reporting unusual glitches and hiccups preventing them from claiming their money.
SCAM: Thieves have a smart new tactic to steal your coronavirus payment
Check your bank account and you may see a $1,200 payout, or even more, pending from the federal government.
The IRS has already begun sending coronavirus “economic impact payments,” and the money is sorely needed as millions of Americans are out of work or not making enough cash to pay their bills. Tap or click to see how you can get help with your internet bill if you can’t pay right now.
Tax filing deadline moved to July 15 - here's the best DIY software
Updated 03/20/2020 – Since everyone is preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government has decided to allow more time to file taxes. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin announced the move via Twitter. Tax Day has officially been moved from April 15 to July 15 for all taxpayers and businesses. You can take this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties. (Scroll down to see the official tweet.)