BBB Warns of Tax Schemes

USA (SANEPR.com) March 3, 2009 -- The continuing downturn in the economy has many cash-strapped Americans anxiously looking forward to receiving a tax refund check this year. During this tax season, Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina (www.bbb.org) advises taxpayers to be on the lookout for schemes and scams that plague families struggling to make ends meet.

Jobless claims for January are at the highest level since 1982. More than 2.6 million jobs were lost in 2008. With more families facing financial hardship, the promise of a tax refund is a welcome sight. Unfortunately, some schemes tied to the tax season will leave consumers even worse off.

"In a declining economy, a tax refund can provide much-needed cash for families enduring financial hardship," says Beverly Baskin, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina. "Consumers can be certain that where there are taxes there will be scams."

Say No to Refund Anticipation Loans
Refund Anticipation Loans (RALs) are cash advances offered by a tax preparer based on a taxpayer's anticipated refund. Anyone who relies on a RAL is essentially paying to borrow their own money. Despite the fact that the loan is extremely low-risk for the tax preparer, the rates can be extremely high for the borrower. The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) finds that the effective annualized rate for a RAL can range from about 50 percent to nearly 500 percent.

BBB Advises: The fastest and most secure way for consumers to get their refund is to file their taxes online and then allow a direct deposit of the refund into their bank account. Taxpayers can have the money in as little as eight days. If a consumer absolutely must take out a RAL, BBB recommends shopping around, because rates and restrictions vary by preparer.

Beware of Tax Reduction Schemes
Some companies claim they can help consumers reduce the amount of money they owe in taxes or fines to the government. These claims often sound too good to be true. TV ads might include endorsements from customers who state the company worked with the IRS on their behalf and was able to reduce the amount owed to pennies on the dollar. Unfortunately, BBB has heard from consumers who paid thousands of dollars to such companies. They were devastated to learn that the company didn't keep its promise to reduce the amount owed and, in some cases, never even contacted the IRS.

BBB Advises: Consumers who have a tax debt with the IRS should first seek the advice of a trusted IRS enrolled agent, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a tax attorney. If a taxpayer does decide to enlist outside help when dealing with the IRS, he or she should be wary of exaggerated claims and large upfront fees, and always check out the business's report with BBB at www.bbb.org

Don't Take the Bait on Phishing E-mails
Phishing e-mails around tax time usually tell the recipient that there's an issue with their refund, that they are being audited, or that there is a problem preventing their taxes from being processed. In most cases, the fraudulent e-mail will provide a hyperlink directing potential victims to a Web site set up by the scammers, where victims are asked for Social Security numbers, bank account information or credit card numbers. In some cases, these illicit sites are designed to automatically install viruses and malware on the victim's computer to steal personal information without the victim even knowing what has happened.

BBB Advises: Many tax-related e-mail phishing scams are run by people and organizations operating outside the United States, and their e-mails are often rife with spelling and grammatical mistakes. Bear in mind that if the IRS has questions or concerns with a tax return, they typically contact the taxpayer by mail, not e-mail.

Those who have received a questionable e-mail claiming to come from the IRS may forward it to a mailbox the IRS has established to receive such e-mails at, phishing@irs.gov.

For more trustworthy advice from your BBB on being a savvy consumer and navigating the 2009 tax season, go to www.bbb.org

About BBB of Eastern North Carolina:
The Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 33 counties in eastern North Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by BBB Accredited Business fees from more than 3,200 local business and professional firms. The BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services, and consumer/business education programs. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit www.bbb.org.

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