Tax Scams at the State Level
Tax scams are a big problem right now. We have talked about scammers pretending to be the IRS, but now they have gotten the state involved too.
The following is from the Iowa Department of Revenue website:
“The Iowa Department of Revenue has been made aware of a potential scam targeting Iowa taxpayers. The scam begins through an automated phone call, which shows on caller ID as being from 515-281-3114. That phone number is the Department’s general Taxpayer Services number; however, no automated phone calls can originate from that number.
When answering the call, the taxpayer is informed they are eligible for a refund from the Iowa Department of Revenue. The taxpayer is then asked whether the refund should be deposited into the account the Department has on file or if they’d like to donate the refund to an animal charity.
The Iowa Department of Revenue does not make these types of calls. We believe this is an attempt to steal bank account or other personal information.
By fraudulently displaying the Department’s phone number on caller ID, the scammer is attempting to convince the taxpayer of the legitimacy of the call.
If you receive such a call, do not provide any information to the caller. You may report the incident to the Iowa Department of Revenue or the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division."
If you ever have any question about something that seems suspicious, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 515-225-3141.
We will be taking a two week break from tax tip Tuesday and will be back on March 31st.
Disclaimer: The items included in the Tax Tip Tuesday Video Blog are informational only and are not meant as tax advice. Consult with your tax advisor to determine how any item applies to your situation. IRS Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advise contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein
