Theresa Arndt, CPA

People who waited until Wednesday’s deadline to file their tax returns may have found that someone hijacked their refund.  That’s what happened to several of my clients this year.  Here are a couple of their stories: One client arrived home to find a letter from the IRS that they were conducting a review of questionable income amounts and claims for credits listed on his return.  His conversation went like many thousands before... Client: " What return?  I haven't even filed yet. "  IRS: " Ummm…yes you have ".  Well my client was right of course; he hadn't filed his return...but someone else had filed it for him. Other clients discovered the identity theft when I attempted to electronically file the return.  The IRS will not accept a return that has already been filed. Naturally, the first question they ask me is:  " How can this happen? "  That's a good question and one I myself wanted to know the answer too. Th...

Earlier this week I received a call from a client who came home from work to find the following message on his voicemail: "Hello, we have been trying to reach you. This call is officially a final notice from the IRS, Internal Revenue Service. The reason of this call is to inform you that IRS is filing a lawsuit against you." Fortunately, my client knew better than to call the number in the message.  Instead he called me to confirm this really was a scam.  But not everyone is so fortunate. “Oh I would never fall for a scam like that”, you say?  Hopefully not.  But sadly many have.   In fact the IRS impersonation phone scam has claimed nearly 3,000 victims who have collectively paid over $14 million, according to a recent TIGTA report .  Phones are ringing in every state.  Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they ...