The Internal Revenue Service is warning that the cybercriminals are already at work as the current tax season approaches. These fraudsters are using a new round of emails posing as potential clients or even the IRS to trick tax practitioners and their clients into disclosing sensitive personal tax information.
Be wary of communicating solely through email with potential or existing prepares or your new tax practitioner. These thieves have stolen identity data from thousands of taxpayers including names, addresses, social security numbers and email addresses.
In the case of identity theft, you will need to file an affidavit with your paper filed return and the IRS will assign to you a new PIN (personal identification number for future filing of your returns.
Both taxpayers and tax practitioners have become victims of this form of identity theft.
Be aware, know who you are dealing with and make sure you are using a reputable tax firm with a history in the profession.

I met with a client today in Grand Junction, Colorado, and he told me a story of his last visit to the local IRS office to get some forms so he could pay the IRS and stay in compliance. He is a local contractor and went there from a job site so he could obtain forms from the rack to pay his taxes and stay in compliance. When he went through the “screening” process he had a utility knife and even though it was in the security basket he was told to put it back in his car. Once he went back into the IRS, and went through the security screening, first they made him remove his boots (steel to work boots), then had a problem with his pants. He had on work jeans with the brass grommets in the construction. The IRS made him go into an interview room and take of his pants. Good thing he did not go “Commando”. He was provided his forms after a 45 minute screening and “Commando”. He was provided his forms after a 45 minute screening and security process. This client feels that the next time the IRS needs money from him they can go to his job site and not treat him like a criminal. He is an American taxpayer and should get more respect.

The Fourth of July is a reminder they we are a free nation, a freedom that comes with responsibility. I was in the Marine Corps when they celebrated their 200th birthday in 1975, and the patriotism shown that day was unbelievable. Where has it gone since that time? We all need to remember that our country was founded on freedom, that we are all Americans, and that we need to work as a nation to maintain that freedom. We all have the freedom to choose our path, whether it be education, employment, marriage, family, and love of our country. We need to remember we are all AMERICANS, and while of different backgrounds we need to work as Americans to love our country and take to heart the potential we have as a nation. We are not perfect, but we are the best country in the world, and we all need to respond to the current times and work to keep our country strong and prosperous. Freedom is not free, and we as Americans need to remember what we will lose if our country does not keep in the right direction.

Sgt. Hale USMC (Inactive)

In 2009 John spent a lot of money on braces for his daughter and when he prepared his 2009 tax return in March of 2010 he had a balance due of over $5,000, which due to the cost of the braces he had no funds available to pay to the Internal Revenue Service.  So he made the choice to not file the 2009 tax return.  When he went to prepare his tax return in March 2011, for the 2010 tax return, he remembered he had not filed the 2009.  Since he had no contact from the IRS on the prior missing return, and afraid to bring attention to this fact, he decided to not file the 2010 tax return, and the same thing happened for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 tax returns.  The IRS finally realized he had not filed these returns, and prepared the returns for John.  When the IRS files your returns, called a SFR (Substitute For Return) they file you as married filing separate, no business deductions, and no credits.  They then send you a statement of the proposed tax liability and you either pay this amount or prepare your own accurate returns and arrive at the proper tax liability.

When you file a tax return, the IRS normally has 3 years from the due date or the date filed to examine this return, and 10 years to collect any tax liability from these returns.  When you choose to not file the tax return in a timely manner these statutes, the time left to examine or perform collections,  never starts.  Even when the IRS files for you and have a liability these time limits do not start running.  When you have a filing requirement, for either a refund due return (you lose the ability to receive a refund after 3 years) or a liability, file on time to avoid additional penalties for late filing or non-filing.  Once the return is filed the IRS will work with you on a payment plan, reduction in liability, or other plans to keep you on track and in compliance.  Not filing the return will not make the liability go away, and will only make it harder to resolve tax issues.  If you are not in compliance with filing your returns they have no reason to work with you and grant any relief. Your tax professional can help you resolve he back year tax problems, work with you to not have a tax due return in the future, and let you rest assured the IRS is being taken care of to avoid additional problems.

When John met with his accountant to prepare these missing tax years, and correct the returns filed by the IRS, he had a tax liability of less than he imagined, they worked out a payment arrangement, and finally was able to stop worrying about the IRS seizing his bank account and wages.  Not filing due to inability to pay will never be the smart thing to do, and if you plan you can avoid so many problems. If you have a really large tax liability the IRS can and will work with you so long as you are in compliance and provide them with the information they need to assist you.

For more information on the different options available to resolve prior tax issues consult a tax professional, or of the amount owed is less than $50,000,contact the IRS directly and they will work with you.  Using a tax professional will make ot easier, as they talk to the IRS on a regular basis, and can further explain the options available to you