SIGMA TAX PRO ADVISES TAXPAYERS AND TAX PROS TO BE AWARE OF PHONY IRS CALLS

Delray Beach, FL (PRWEB) April 25, 2014

The Internal Revenue Service (October 31, 2013) warned taxpayers late last year of what is purported to be the largest IRS phone scam in history. Criminals have been calling taxpayers and demanding immediate payments for taxes owed. The fraudsters claim to be IRS agents and tell the victims they owe thousands of dollars to the IRS. They demand immediate payment which must be in the form of prepaid debit cards or wire transfers. Thousands of victims have already lost over $1 million through this elaborate ruse which often preys on recent immigrants to the United States.

The Washington Post (April 16th, 2014) recently covered the issue and posted a recorded conversation of one of the scam phone calls. They also report that the reason for immigrants being targeted in the scam relates to the threat of deportation that the criminals use to force the victim into paying whatever they demand. However, they also report that the scam has now spread to any taxpayer that can be conned into believing that they are indeed IRS agents. Furthermore the scam involves the use of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology so it appears the call is coming directly from the IRS. The call will show up on the victim’s caller ID as 1-800-829-1040 which is the main IRS phone number.

The IRS has warned taxpayers of several ways to tell if a phone call they receive could be a scam. The first sign is if you have not received notification in the mail prior to the phone call. The IRS will always communicate any past due taxes via mail first. Also if the caller becomes threatening or tries to intimidate you this is also a sign that it is a scam. Perhaps the simplest advice to follow is always to call the IRS first at 1-800-829-1040 to check if you do indeed owe taxes. If this is the case then payments arrangements can be made via the legitimate IRS call centers.

Sigma Tax Pro provides a full range of essential services for tax professionals.This includes industry leading software solutions as well as technical support, tax preparation support and client retention strategies. Sigma Tax Pro specializes in helping tax preparation firms expand their businesses, open new offices and increase their client base. Clients can already renew their software licenses for next year’s tax season and ensure the lowest pricing available in the industry.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/taxes/professional-software/prweb11794203.htm

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