IRS Warns of Ongoing and Pandemic-Related Tax Scams

ach year, we share with you what the IRS calls its “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams. This year, the pandemic has given rise to new, and even more sophisticated scams. The scams on the 2021 IRS Dirty Dozen list can be encountered at any time during the year, but they peak during tax season(s). With numerous changes impacting taxpayers due to the global pandemic such as extended and inconsistent tax deadlines, various stimulus payments, COVID-related unemployment or economic hardship payments, tax scams continue to occur at an alarming rate and an increasing number of people fall prey to these scams. Don’t be one of them. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Some scams are complex, with sophisticated algorithms being used to steal identities. Other scams are as simple as picking up the telephone to trap unaware and unsuspecting taxpayers. Once again and not surprisingly, phishing and phone scams are two of the most prevalent ways in which taxpayers have been victimized. As expected, as the country continues to recover from the effects of a global pandemic, many entries on this list are associated with the impacts of COVID-19.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Tax Accounting Group Alert, please visit the firm website.

IRS Adds Additional Forms That Can Be Signed Electronically Related to the Pandemic

On August 28, the IRS announced that it would temporarily allow the use of digital signatures on certain forms that cannot be filed electronically. As of September 11, 2020, they added several more forms to that list.

To read the full text of this post by Duane Morris partner Brad Molotsky, please visit the Duane Morris Project Development/Infrastructure/P3 Blog.

IRS Warns of Ongoing Tax Scams

The scams on the 2020 IRS Dirty Dozen list can be encountered at any time during the year, but they peak during tax season. With the extended tax deadlines this year due to the pandemic and extension season well under way, tax scams continue to occur at an alarming rate and an increasing number of people fall prey to these scams. Don’t be one of them. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Some scams are complex, with sophisticated algorithms being used to steal identities. Other scams are as simple as picking up the telephone to trap unaware and unsuspecting taxpayers. Once again and not surprisingly, phishing and phone scams are at the top of the list. And moving up from number eight last year to number two this year are fake charities, particularly popular among scammers due to the increasing number of people in need and the many new charities recently organized due to COVID-19.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Tax Accounting Group Alert, please visit the firm website.

New Benefits Regulation in Response to COVID-19 Extends Timelines, Including Those Applicable to COBRA

On April 29, 2020, the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service and Department of the Treasury together issued a joint final regulation extending certain time frames under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code for group health plans, disability and other welfare plans, pension plans, and benefits and beneficiaries of these plans during the COVID-19 national emergency.

To read the full text of this Duane Morris Alert, please visit the firm website.

© 2009- Duane Morris LLP. Duane Morris is a registered service mark of Duane Morris LLP.

The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

Proudly powered by WordPress