With taxes due today (Monday), the IRS has some warnings for you that can be summed up in a few words: Beware tax scams.
Plenty of con artists and cheats are champing at the bit to "help" anyone who wants to pay as little as possible.
So if you're one of the more than 200 million Americans who will file taxes this year, make sure you have a trusted accountant or other reliable person who can help you comply with IRS rules.
"This tax season, the IRS has stepped up its efforts to protect taxpayers from a wide range of schemes, including moving aggressively to combat identity theft and refund fraud," IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller said. "The Dirty Dozen list shows that scams come in many forms during filing season. Don't let a scam artist steal from you or talk you into doing something you will regret later."
So if you haven't already filed your taxes, do so before it's too late - and don't fall for these scams.
The danger of becoming a victim of tax fraud continues to grow. Last year, the IRS prevented the issuance of $20 billion in returns based on fraudulent claims, up from $14 billion in 2011.
From the IRS's "Dirty Dozen" list of tax schemes, here are six scams taxpayers should strive to avoid:
The IRS also warns of common mistakes among filers. These include overestimating the value of donations and business expenses and neglecting to record a dependent or take advantage of IRA deductions.
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