It’s that time of year – The Final Four and the final push to gather what’s needed and file personal taxes!
2017 was no stranger to identity theft due to the Equifax data breach, exposing private information of over 145 Million Americans. Many Americans began filing taxes as early as 29 January, 2018. The Federal Trade Commission warned people to file taxes “as soon as you can, before a scammer can”.
Tax scams are a growing problem in the US. The IRS does NOT initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message or social-media channels to request information, the agency states on its website. Taxpayers should not turn over information to anyone who contacts them in those ways. But, the IRS does initiate contact with taxpayers by mail – by “snail mail” to the address on file for the taxpayer.
The scammers are upping their game this year – telephone calls are on the rise. Tax Professionals are a target this year, as eService scams and hacks have increased. Businesses and Payroll firms are a target this year. The IRS has established a process that will allow businesses and payroll service providers to quickly report any data losses related to the W-2 scam currently making the rounds.
Be vigilant! Pay attention and increase security methods for ALL personal information.
Here are a few sites to read and learn what to do. The IRS has a Consumer Alert site: Tax Scams / Consumer Alerts and a site for tax filers urging protection of our identification numbers: Protect Identification Numbers
The FTC provided a statement after the Equifax data breach, “What to Do” if we were impacted. The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do
The Living Planner proactively helps you assess what you have in place today in business and home. We explore ways for you to protect what is important to you by asking questions and exploring with you. When you’re ready to explore how to be ready, we’re here for you.
Contact us to learn more about how we work with individuals, business owners and employees via Email or online @ The Living Planner #ExpectTheUnexpected #CareForPeopleCareForBusiness