Tax season has commenced, and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is cautioning consumers against falling prey to tax scams.
"We want to make sure that when you file your taxes, you do so safely and correctly," said General Murrill.
This year, federal Tax Day is on Monday, April 15th. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division highlights several common scams to be vigilant about:
Scammers posing as the IRS often request personal or financial information by pretending to be the Internal Revenue Service. It is important to note that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers through email, text messages, or social media.
Another prevalent scam involves individuals or companies impersonating legitimate tax preparers. These scammers demand a large fee but fail to deliver promised services. To avoid this, consider using a well-known tax preparer company or one recommended by someone trustworthy. The IRS also provides a Federal Tax Return Preparer directory for finding legitimate tax preparers in your area. Certain taxpayers can file their taxes for free using IRS DirectFile; more information is available on their website.
Tax debt relief scams are another concern where scammers claim they can help settle tax debts cheaply. Taxpayers pay a substantial upfront fee for promises of negotiating debt reductions with the IRS, but these companies often pocket the fee without fulfilling their promise.
Suspected tax schemes should be reported to the IRS via email at phishing@irs.gov or by calling 1-800-908-4490.
Louisiana taxpayers can also submit a consumer dispute form through the office's website at www.aglizmurrill.com. Louisiana state income taxes are due on May 15th.