AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s our least favorite time of the year: tax season. And we want to make sure if you are owed a refund, you get it.
The ITEAM found the IRS is warning of new tax scams not only targeting you but also your tax preparer to steal your information.
Another one, claiming unemployment on your behalf even if you never lost your job in the pandemic. Senior ITEAM investigative reporter Liz Owens exposes the schemers and has the information you need before you file.
As unemployment soared in the last two years during the Covid 19 pandemic, Gigi Turner with the better business bureau says scammers got some new ideas.
“The tax scams get bigger every year- they just find new ways to scam people.”
At the top of the list, stealing your information to claim unemployment. Those unemployment benefits are taxable.
“You are not going to know that until the IRS lets you know you need to fill out a form.” Explains Turner. “You will get a 1099 form in the mail saying this is for tax purposes to file with your taxes, and you will be like what is this? That’s when you will know when you will get that form in the mail.”
The IRS says if this happens to you –
- Do not report the incorrect 1099-G income on your tax return.
- But “you should report fraud to the issuing state agency and request a corrected form 1099-G.”
- Do not use it as an excuse to halt your filing. “The processing of your tax return should not be delayed while your report of unemployment identity…
