GRAND RAPIDS — The new year means tax preparation filing season is also here.
The Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan is offering tips to avoid scams in 2022 well before the April 18, 2022 filing deadline.
“While the actual due date seems far away, starting early can save you from headaches down the road,” according to the release from the BBB said.
The number one tax scam is identity theft, according to the BBB. This happens when a scammer uses another person’s Social Security number and other personal information to file a return to collect a refund. Consumers often don’t realize they’re victims of this scam until receiving a written notice from the IRS saying someone else had already filed a return.
“The easiest way to avoid a tax scam is to file as early as possible, so the scammers don’t have a chance to use your information and file before you do,” Lisa Frohnapfel, President & CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Western Michigan, said in the release. “It is always important to protect your personal information; however, filing early can help protect your tax return.”
IRS impersonation is another popular scam. Scammers will call, email or text claiming to be from the IRS and pressure a person to provide personal information and/or a payment. A…
