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January 31, 2018 By Tax Attorney

SC Tax Return Season

SC Tax Return Season

South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) began accepting Individual Income Tax returns January 29, 2018.
Returns are due Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

Important information for this year’s filing season is included below. Additional information and resources are available on our website at dor.sc.gov/iit. This article is an excerpt from news@dor.sc.gov.

File Online – Save time.

The SCDOR reminds taxpayers that electronic filing is the most efficient and safest way to file.

“Approximately 87% of South Carolina taxpayers filed electronically in 2017,” said Hartley Powell, SCDOR Director. “We encourage all taxpayers to please consider the many benefits of electronic filing before deciding to file on paper.”

Electronic filing along with choosing direct deposit provides the safest, fastest way to file and receive due refunds. Electronic filing also helps prevent tax fraud, a growing national problem the SCDOR continues to work vigorously to combat.

Taxpayers can learn more about the many available electronic filing options on our website at dor.sc.gov/iit-filing including free electronic filing for eligible taxpayers through the Free File Alliance. Taxpayers can complete and submit simple Individual Income Tax returns online with SC Fillable Forms starting January 29, 2018.

Tax Fraud

The SCDOR is committed to keeping your tax refund safe from fraudsters, and our anti-fraud measures remain aggressive. If you receive an SCDOR letter requesting verification of a return or additional information, please know this is for anti-fraud purposes and may delay some refunds. Your prompt response is appreciated.

If you suspect a refund has been fraudulently requested on your behalf, complete and submit the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit Form 14039 and call the SCDOR’s dedicated customer care line at 1-803-898-7638. Protect your personal information from fraudsters, and review security tips available on our website.

Filed Under: SC Tax Filing, Tax Fraud, Uncategorized Tagged With: 2018, south carolina, tax fraud, tax returns

February 14, 2017 By Tax Attorney

IRS Includes Falsifying Income Scam in 2017 List of “Dirty Dozen”

IRS Includes Falsifying Income Scam in 2017 List of “Dirty Dozen”

from the irs.gov website:

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today continued issuing its annual list of common tax scams by warning taxpayers to avoid schemes to erroneously claim tax credits. This year’s “Dirty Dozen” includes falsifying income to claim tax credits.

“Taxpayers should ensure all the information they provide on their tax return is accurate,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Falsifying income to claim tax credits is against the law. Taxpayers are legally responsible for all the information reported on their tax returns.”

The “Dirty Dozen,” a list compiled annually by the IRS, describes a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter. Many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their returns or hire others to help them.

Scams can lead to significant penalties and interest and possible criminal prosecution. IRS Criminal Investigation works closely with the Department of Justice to shutdown scams and prosecute the criminals behind them.

Don’t Make Up Income

Some people falsely increase the income they report to the IRS. This scam involves inflating or including income on a tax return that was never earned, either as wages or self-employment income, usually to maximize refundable credits.

Much like falsely claiming an expense or deduction you did not pay is not right, claiming income you did not earn is also inappropriate. Unscrupulous people do this to secure larger refundable credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and it can have serious repercussions. Taxpayers can face a large bill to repay the erroneous refunds, including interest and penalties. In some cases, they may even face criminal prosecution.

Fake Forms 1099-MISC

The IRS cautions taxpayers to avoid getting caught up in scheme disguised as a debt payment option for credit cards or mortgage debt. It involves the filing of a Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and/or bogus financial instruments such as bonds, bonded promissory notes or worthless checks.

Con artists often argue that the proper way to redeem or draw on a fictitious held-aside account is to use some form of made-up financial instrument such as a bonded promissory note that purports to be a debt payment method for credit cards or mortgage debt. Scammers provide fraudulent Form(s) 1099-MISC that appear to be issued by a large bank, loan service and/or mortgage company with which the taxpayer may have had a prior relationship, to further perpetrate the scheme. Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship, may also be used by participants in this scam to assign fiduciary responsibilities to the lenders.

Taxpayers may encounter unethical return preparers who make them aware of these scams. Remember: Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their tax return even if it is prepared by someone else.

Choose Return Preparers Carefully

It is important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare your return. Well-intentioned taxpayers can be misled by preparers who don’t understand taxes or who mislead people into taking credits or deductions they aren’t entitled to in order to increase their fee. Every year, these types of tax preparers face everything from penalties to jail time for defrauding their clients.

To find tips about choosing a preparer, better understand the differences in credentials and qualifications, research the IRS preparer directory, and learn how to submit a complaint regarding a tax return preparer, visit www.irs.gov/chooseataxpro.

Filed Under: Employment Tax Fraud, IRS Criminal Investigation, Tax Evasion, Tax Fraud Tagged With: false tax credits, tax evasion, tax fraud

January 30, 2016 By Tax Attorney

5 Convicted of Tax Fraud

5 Convicted of Tax Fraud

COLUMBIA, SC

A federal jury in Columbia late Wednesday afternoon found five defendants guilty of committing various kinds of tax fraud in conspiring to get millions in IRS refunds and actually getting some $2 million before government agents discovered their scheme.

After five days of testimony and hearing from 27 government witnesses, the jury took just 90 minutes to find all five guilty of 36 out of 37 counts of charges related to various kinds of federal tax fraud. They will be sentenced at a later date.

During the trial, two of the five defendants took the witness stand to describe what even their lawyers admitted was a bizarre scheme whereby the defendants asserted their belief that the U.S. government has large stashes of cash accessible by people with secret knowledge of how to file the correct IRS forms.

The defendants face 10 or more years in prison each.

Read more here: The State
Tax Attorney Joseph Arndt defends clients in Tax Fraud cases. Contact our office.

Filed Under: IRS Criminal Investigation, Tax Fraud, Tax Problems Tagged With: south carolina, tax conspiracy, tax fraud

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