Tax Tip Tuesday: New Scam Targets Students
The tax deadline has come and gone, but now scammers have a new target – students.
The Internal Revenue Service issued this warning to taxpayers. IRS impersonators are calling students and demanding payment for a fake tax that they call the Federal Student Tax. They try to convince people to wire money immediately to the scammer. They also threaten to report the student to the police.
“These scams and schemes continue to evolve nationwide, and now they’re trying to trick students,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Taxpayers should remain vigilant and not fall prey to these aggressive calls demanding immediate payment of a tax supposedly owed.”
Scam artists frequently pretend to be from the IRS, a tax company, or a state revenue department. They often use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest, deport, or revoke the driver’s license of their victim if they don’t get the money.
Some examples of the varied tactics seen this year are:
Demanding immediate tax payment for taxes owed on an iTunes gift card
Soliciting W-2 information from payroll and human resource professionals
“Verifying” tax return information over the phone
Pretending to be from the tax preparation industry
The IRS urges taxpayers to stay vigilant against these calls and to know the telltale signs of a scam demanding payment.
The IRS will never:
Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
If you are confused by any tax related communication you receive or question if it is real, please give us a call at 515-225-3141 or email cbrand@ryungivens.com.
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.
