Dear Friends,
Tax season is quickly drawing to a close; the tax filing deadline is Wednesday, April 15. As families in South Florida are filling out income tax forms, looking for receipts, and sorting their way through mountains of paperwork, few are thinking about fraud. However, income tax fraud is one of the most common types of white collar crime in the U.S. Because of the nature of the crime, it is extremely difficult to calculate the impact of tax fraud; however the Internal Revenue Service estimates that more than $300 billion are lost every year to this crime.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Florida saw the highest number of fraud and identity theft cases per capita of any state in the nation in 2014. These statistics mean that members of our community are more likely to be the victims of tax scams than anyone else in our nation. However, there are steps and actions that we can take to keep us safe from white collar criminals:
* Do not carry your Social Security card or any documents with your Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) on it.
* Never give information to anyone calling you and claiming they work for the IRS. The IRS will only communicate with taxpayers by mail.
* Do not give a business your SSN or ITIN just because they ask. Give it only when required.
* Check your credit report every 12 months.
* Protect your personal computers by using firewalls, anti-spam/virus software, update security patches and change passwords for Internet accounts.
* Never give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with.
* If you are having a hard time filling out your taxes or have questions, please contact a CPA or tax professional to help you with the process.
You should also reach out to your tax professional and ensure that:
* Only one tax return was filed under your name
* You have no balance due, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for any unfilled returns.
* Your state or federal benefits were reduced or cancelled because the agency received information reporting an income change.
Income tax fraud is a serious problem that impacts many in our community and our nation. However, by being vigilant and following some safe practices, we can help ensure a decrease in income tax fraud and safeguard our financial security.
Should you need help filling out your federal income taxes, members of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) at Miami-Dade College can help. VITA coordinators at the Wolfson Campus (305) 237-3151, the Hialeah Campus (305) 237-8620, or the InterAmerican Campus (305) 237-6484 for assistance but residents can get tax assistance from VITA anywhere in Miami-Dade County.
Sincerely,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of Congress