BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – April 15 is the federal tax deadline — and criminals know it.
Lucy Tan, assistant special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Houston Field Office, is urging taxpayers to stay alert as filing season peaks.
Watch your tax preparer
Tan says dishonest preparers are a major risk. Her advice: go through your return line by line before signing.
Red flags to watch for:
- Business losses on your return — but you don’t own a business
- Credits or deductions you don’t qualify for
- Promises of unusually large refunds
“A lot of times they would advertise, saying, ‘Hey, I can get you a lot of refunds on your tax return,’” Tan said. “Those are some of the signs that you might want to look for.”
Protect yourself before you file
Tan recommends requesting a free Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN, from the IRS. The personal PIN — shared only between you and the IRS — prevents…
Be skeptical of “Work from Home” offers that require you to receive money into your personal account and transfer it elsewhere, as this makes you a “Money Mule” in a money-laundering operation.