Bridge Street Tax Service and Bookkeeping

Here is an article that has been released by the IRS regarding a scam that is being reported. If you have any questions regarding any phone call or letter received from any government agency, please feel free to contact our office. Taxpayers should beware of property lien scam With scam artists hard at work all year, taxpayers should watch for new versions of tax-related scams. One such scam involves fake property liens. It threatens taxpayers with a tax bill from a fictional... government agency. Here are some details about the property lien scam that will help taxpayers recognize it: This scheme involves a letter threatening an IRS lien or levy. The scammer mails the letter to a taxpayer. The lien or levy is based on bogus overdue taxes owed to a non-existent agency. The non-existent agencies might have a legitimate-sounding name like the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. There is no such agency. This scam may also reference the IRS to confuse potential victims into thinking the letter is from a real agency. For anyone who doesn’t owe taxes and has no reason to think they do should: Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report the letter. The taxpayer should use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page. When reporting the scam, they should include the key words IRS Lien. Scan a document received as a letter or fax, and send it to [email protected]. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Report it also to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, known simply as IC3. Taxpayers who do owe tax or think they might owe should: Review their tax account information and payment options at IRS.gov. Reviewing tax account information online will show the taxpayer if they indeed owe the IRS and how much. This is the fastest way to get this information. Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to confirm the notice if they’re still not sure they owe. More information: Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts How Do You Report Suspected Tax Fraud Activity? Share this tip on social media -- #IRSTaxTip: Taxpayers should beware of property lien scam. https://go.usa.gov/xVyY4

If you haven't filed your 2018 Income Taxes, please call us. We are here to help you with your tax needs.If you haven't filed your 2018 Income Taxes, please call us. We are here to help you with your tax needs.

This is a recent post from the IRS regarding scams that are resurfacing this summer. Please be aware and be cautious. Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new versions of these two scams With scam artists hard at work all year, taxpayers should be on the lookout for a surge of evolving phishing emails and telephone scams. Taxpayers should watch for new versions of two tax-related scams. One involves Social Security numbers related to tax issues. The other threatens taxpayer...s with a tax bill from a fictional government agency. Here are some details about these scams to help taxpayers recognize them: The SSN scheme The latest twist includes scammers claiming to be able to suspend or cancel the victim’s Social Security number. This scam is similar to and often associated with the IRS impersonation scam. It is yet another attempt by con artists to frighten taxpayers into returning robocall voicemails. Scammers may mention overdue taxes in addition to threatening to cancel the taxpayer’s SSN. Fake tax agency This scheme involves a letter threatening an IRS lien or levy. The scammer mails the letter to the taxpayer. The lien or levy is based on bogus overdue taxes owed to a non-existent agency. The fake agency is called the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. There is no such agency. The lien notification scam also likely references the IRS to confuse potential victims into thinking the letter is from a legitimate agency. Both these schemes show classic signs of being scams. The IRS and its Security Summit partners the state tax agencies and the tax industry remind everyone to stay alert to scams that use the IRS or reference taxes. Being alert is especially important in late spring and early summer as tax bills and refunds arrive.

The deadline for filing your 2018 tax return is just around the corner. If yo need to file for an extension, please contact our office as soon as possible. Remember your tax liability is still due on April 15th - this is not an extension of time to pay. Penalties and interest will accrue on all balances not paid by the due date.

Call us for your bookkeeping needs or questions about your tax responsibility.

Tax time is upon us. The IRS says that they will start processing returns on January 28th and refunds will follow shortly.

Here are a few steps taxpayers can take to protect against phishing and other email scams. When reading emails, people should: Be vigilant and skeptical. Never open a link or attachment from an unknown or suspicious source. Even if the email is from a known source, the recipient should approach with caution. Cybercrooks are good at acting like trusted businesses, friends and family. This even includes the IRS and others in the tax business. Double check the email address.... Thieves may have compromised a friend’s email address. They might also be spoofing the address with a slight change in text. For example, using [email protected] instead of [email protected]. Merely changing the m to an r and n can trick people. Remember that the IRS doesn't initiate spontaneous contact with taxpayers by email to ask for personal or financial information. This includes asking for information via text messages and social media channels. The IRS does not call taxpayers with aggressive threats of lawsuits or arrests. Not click on hyperlinks in suspicious emails. When in doubt, users should not use hyperlinks and go directly to the source’s main web page. They should also remember that no legitimate business or organization will ask for sensitive financial information by email. Use security software to protect against malware and viruses found in phishing emails. Some security software can help identity suspicious websites that are used by cybercriminals. Use strong passwords to protect online accounts. Experts recommend the use of a passphrase, instead of a password, use a minimum of 10 digits, including letters, numbers and special characters. Use multi-factor authentication when offered. Two-factor authentication means that in addition to entering a username and password, the user must enter a security code This code is usually sent as a text to the user’s mobile phone. Even if a thief manages to steal usernames and passwords, it’s unlikely the crook would also have a victim’s phone. Report phishing scams. Taxpayers can forward suspicious emails to [email protected]. See more

Tax season is just around the corner. Call for your tax appointment today. New location with plenty of parking - 3112 S. Mooney Blvd., Suite A. Accepting new bookkeeping clients as well.

If you have ever thought you were being contacted by the IRS but weren't sure - here is how they contact taxpayers: The IRS doesn't normally initiate contact with taxpayers by email. The agency does not send text messages or contact people through social media. When the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, the first contact is normally by letter delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Fraudsters will send fake documents through the mail, and in some cases will claim they alr...eady notified a taxpayer by U.S. mail. Depending on the situation, IRS employees may first call or visit with a taxpayer. In some instances, the IRS sends a letter or written notice to a taxpayer in advance, but not always. IRS revenue agents or tax compliance officers may call a taxpayer or tax professional after mailing a notice to confirm an appointment or to discuss items for a scheduled audit. Private debt collectors can call taxpayers for the collection of certain outstanding inactive tax liabilities, but only after the taxpayer and their representative have received written notice. IRS revenue officers and agents routinely make unannounced visits to a taxpayer’s home or place of business to discuss taxes owed, delinquent tax returns or a business falling behind on payroll tax deposits. IRS revenue officers will request payment of taxes owed by the taxpayer. However, taxpayers should remember that payment will never be requested to a source other than the U.S. Treasury. When visited by someone from the IRS, the taxpayers should always ask for credentials. IRS representatives can always provide two forms of official credentials: a pocket commission and a Personal Identity Verification Credential. Hope this is helpful. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our office at 559-73-4829.

WE'VE MOVED!!!!!! Come visit us at our new location at 3112 S Mooney Blvd., Suite A Visalia, CA 93277... 559-733-4829 - phone 559-733-1720 - fax www.bridgestreettax.com See more

Be sure to schedule your appointment for your taxes. Deadline to file this year is April 17th.