To all:
From today's (3/12/19) "IRS Newswire" e-newsletter, also issued as a news release(https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-2019-dirty-dozen-tax-scams-list-highlights-inflating-deductions-credits) by the IRS:
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Taxpayers should watch for areas frequently targeted by unscrupulous tax preparers include overstating deductions such as charitable contributions<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTI4MSZlbWFpbGlkPW1pY2hhZWxAc3VtcHRpb25hbmR3eWxhbmQuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1taWNoYWVsQHN1bXB0aW9uYW5kd3lsYW5kLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&130&&&https://www.irs.gov/uac/about-publication-526>, medical expenses<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTI4MSZlbWFpbGlkPW1pY2hhZWxAc3VtcHRpb25hbmR3eWxhbmQuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1taWNoYWVsQHN1bXB0aW9uYW5kd3lsYW5kLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&131&&&https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/medical-and-dental-expenses-at-a-glance>, padding business expenses<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTI4MSZlbWFpbGlkPW1pY2hhZWxAc3VtcHRpb25hbmR3eWxhbmQuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1taWNoYWVsQHN1bXB0aW9uYW5kd3lsYW5kLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&132&&&https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Deducting-Business-Expenses> or falsely claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and other tax benefits<http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMzEyLjMwMTU0MDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzIyOTI4MSZlbWFpbGlkPW1pY2hhZWxAc3VtcHRpb25hbmR3eWxhbmQuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1taWNoYWVsQHN1bXB0aW9uYW5kd3lsYW5kLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&133&&&https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&-Deductions/Individuals/Earned-Income-Tax-Credit>. Some taxpayers who prepare their own returns, as well as those who use unscrupulous preparers, may also pad their deductions and credits to inflate their refund or lower their tax bill.
Padding deductions and credits is part of this year's "Dirty Dozen" list of common tax scams. Taxpayers may encounter these schemes any time, but many of them peak during the tax filing season as people prepare their tax returns or hire others to help with their taxes.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that they are still personally at risk, even if someone suggests using these strategies or a paid tax preparer actually prepares their return. By the time the IRS contacts the taxpayer about these problems, the promoter or preparer is often long gone.
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[S&W_clr-small]
Michael L. Wyland
Sumption & Wyland
818 South Hawthorne Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104-4537
(605) 336-0244 or (888) 4-SUMPTION
Web site:
http://www.sumptionandwyland.com
LinkedIn Profile:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwyland
"I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend." - Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, April 22, 1800