Filing taxes? BBB offers tips for finding help and avoiding tax identity theft

Better Business Bureau

BBB offers tips and resources for filing your taxes and finding a tax preparer
It’s that time of year again. Over the next few weeks, W-2 forms will show up at your work desk or in your mail. And while the thought of a hefty tax return could be a happy one, the consequences of filing your taxes the wrong way is not.
While it can be tempting to rush out and get your taxes done so you can get your refund sooner, your Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin encourages taxpayers to take time and use caution when selecting a tax preparer you can trust. It is important to avoid mistakes that could result in additional fees or even tax identity theft.
Unfortunately, identity theft is not the only thing to watch out for when enlisting the help of a tax preparer or tax software to file your taxes. BBB receives thousands of complaints from consumers against tax preparers every year. In fact, BBB has seen a rise in complaints over the last three years.
In 2015, BBB received more than 3,300 complaints against tax return preparation businesses across the United States and Canada. Common complaints state that the tax preparer made errors in their return which resulted in fines and fees. Other complaints allege customer service, billing and contract issues.
BBB offers the following advice when searching for a tax preparer:

Look for credentials. Ideally, your tax preparer should either be a certified public accountant, a tax attorney or an enrolled agent. All three can represent you before the IRS in all matters, including an audit.
Don’t fall for the promise of a big refund. Be wary of any tax preparation service promising larger refunds than the competition. Avoid any tax preparer who bases their fee on a percentage of the refund.
Think about accessibility. Many tax preparation services only set up shop for the months leading up to April 15. In case the IRS finds errors, or in case of an audit, make sure you are able to contact you tax preparer at any time of the year.
Read the contract carefully. Read tax preparation service contracts closely to ensure you understand issues such as how much it is going to cost for the service, how the cost will be affected if preparation is more complicated and time consuming than expected and whether the tax preparer will represent you in the case of an audit.
Ask around. Find BBB Accredited tax preparation businesses in your local area. There are over 300 BBB Accredited tax preparation businesses serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin. Check out bbb.org to find a BBB Accredited tax preparation business near you.

Tax season is a busy one for identity thieves. It is important to avoid mistakes that could result in additional fees, or even tax identity theft. This can happen when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund, or even a job.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, tax identity thieves get your personal information in a number of ways, including: going through your trash or mailbox; through emails asking for information, which appear to come from the IRS; employees at hospitals, nursing homes, banks and other businesses stealing data; and phony or dishonest tax preparers misusing confidential information or passing it along to identity thieves.
In 2014, tax identity theft made up 33 percent of all identity theft complaints, according to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. That’s an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2013.
To lessen the chances of becoming a victim of tax identity theft, the FTC has the following advice, whether you choose to file your return yourself or use a tax preparer:

File your tax return early. Do it before identity thieves have a chance to steal your information.
Use a secure Internet connection. If you file your return electronically, don’t use unsecure, publicly available Wi-Fi hotspots.
Shred documents. This includes copies of your tax return, drafts or calculation sheets you no longer need. The IRS recommends that most people keep three years’ worth of tax returns in case of an audit. Keep hardcopy and electronic files in a secure location.
Check your credit report. To ensure your identity hasn’t been stolen or compromised, go to annualcreditreport.com to get your free credit report.

For more information and resources for filing your taxes, go to BBB’s Tax Resource Center.


Filing taxes? BBB offers tips for finding help and avoiding tax identity theft Better Business Bureau BBB offers tips and resources for filing your taxes and finding a tax preparer It’s that time of year again. Over the next few weeks, W-2 forms will show up at your work desk or in your mail. And while the thought of a hefty tax return could be a happy one, the consequences of filing your taxes the wrong way is not. While it can be tempting to rush out and get your taxes done so you can get your refund sooner, your Better Business Bureau serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin encourages taxpayers to take time and use caution when selecting a tax preparer you can trust. It is important to avoid mistakes that could result in additional fees or even tax identity theft. Unfortunately, identity theft is not the only thing to watch out for when enlisting the help of a tax preparer or tax software to file your taxes. BBB receives thousands of complaints from consumers against tax preparers every year. In fact, BBB has seen a rise in complaints over the last three years. In 2015, BBB received more than 3,300 complaints against tax return preparation businesses across the United States and Canada. Common complaints state that the tax preparer made errors in their return which resulted in fines and fees. Other complaints allege customer service, billing and contract issues. BBB offers the following advice when searching for a tax preparer: Look for credentials. Ideally, your tax preparer should either be a certified public accountant, a tax attorney or an enrolled agent. All three can represent you before the IRS in all matters, including an audit. Don’t fall for the promise of a big refund. Be wary of any tax preparation service promising larger refunds than the competition. Avoid any tax preparer who bases their fee on a percentage of the refund. Think about accessibility. Many tax preparation services only set up shop for the months leading up to April 15. In case the IRS finds errors, or in case of an audit, make sure you are able to contact you tax preparer at any time of the year. Read the contract carefully. Read tax preparation service contracts closely to ensure you understand issues such as how much it is going to cost for the service, how the cost will be affected if preparation is more complicated and time consuming than expected and whether the tax preparer will represent you in the case of an audit. Ask around. Find BBB Accredited tax preparation businesses in your local area. There are over 300 BBB Accredited tax preparation businesses serving Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas and the Permian Basin. Check out bbb.org to find a BBB Accredited tax preparation business near you. Tax season is a busy one for identity thieves. It is important to avoid mistakes that could result in additional fees, or even tax identity theft. This can happen when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund, or even a job. According to the Federal Trade Commission, tax identity thieves get your personal information in a number of ways, including: going through your trash or mailbox; through emails asking for information, which appear to come from the IRS; employees at hospitals, nursing homes, banks and other businesses stealing data; and phony or dishonest tax preparers misusing confidential information or passing it along to identity thieves. In 2014, tax identity theft made up 33 percent of all identity theft complaints, according to the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book. That’s an increase of nearly 3 percent from 2013. To lessen the chances of becoming a victim of tax identity theft, the FTC has the following advice, whether you choose to file your return yourself or use a tax preparer: File your tax return early. Do it before identity thieves have a chance to steal your information. Use a secure Internet connection. If you file your return electronically, don’t use unsecure, publicly available Wi-Fi hotspots. Shred documents. This includes copies of your tax return, drafts or calculation sheets you no longer need. The IRS recommends that most people keep three years’ worth of tax returns in case of an audit. Keep hardcopy and electronic files in a secure location. Check your credit report. To ensure your identity hasn’t been stolen or compromised, go to annualcreditreport.com to get your free credit report. For more information and resources for filing your taxes, go to BBB’s Tax Resource Center.
Alice Business Today - January 2016