The IRS released the Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2012 which range from identity theft to return preparer fraud. The IRS annually prepares this list. They say any of the scam items on the list are continuing during the year, but with an increased intensity during the filing season.

The IRS commissioner is warning targeted people that the scam artists may contact them through the email, on line or even in person. The scams propagate schemes of lost refunds and free money. He urges people not to be fooled by them.

Illegal scams can subject people to tax penalties and possible criminal prosecutions as well as the regular litany of IRS collection actions resulting from owing back taxes that should have been paid to begin with. Those actions for collections may range from IRS levy such as bank levy and IRS wage garnishments plus asset seizure.

In doubt about any engagements with others, you may call the IRS for tax help or contact your CPA or your IRS tax attorney. Accredited professionals usually carry the credibility of their licenses and are seldom involved in fraudulent schemes.

The first place scam honor goes to "Identity Theft"  Basically, those who steal your identity file fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds that they or you are not entitled to. They steal your identity to file a fraudulent return. The only difference here is that you did not know that it was filed on your behalf and thus you are an innocent victim.

The IRS now are examining returns with refunds that appear to be fraudulent. They investigate those committing the false filing in addition to law enforcement actions and investigations. The IRS sends notices to the taxpayers that have more than one return filed for them. They also inform the taxpayers that there are w-2's from employers that they are not aware of. The IRS says that it protected more than 1.4 billion of taxpayers' funds getting in the wrong hands. The IRS targeted 105 people in 23 states.

The second rank of thievery is reserved to "Phishing" It is a scheme whereby the perpetrator will set up a seemingly legitimate web site to gather information about the taxpayer and, armed with this information, they will obtain the necessary information to commit their fraud in your name. The IRS asks taxpayers to contact them if the taxpayers receive an email purporting to be from he IRS (IRS does not send emails.) For a tax resolution to these issue taxpayers have to work closely with the IRS in order to avoid any out of hand outcome that could have been handled much easier if the taxpayers had contacted the IRS.

Summary: For a tax resolution to scams and to avoid IRS problems, you can get tax help from IRS to defeat scams, if you act promptly.

dalexander@resolvemytaxes.com