Income tax season is in full swing, as are the annual tax scams, predatory lending practices and refund-draining products that go along with it. This year, the COVID pandemic has created even more schemes to watch out for.
Struggling families may spend more than necessary to get their tax refund faster, and scammers are targeting pandemic assistance programs such as unemployment, stimulus payments, donations to charities or business loans.
New Jersey and the Internal Revenue Service pushed back the state and federal income tax filing deadlines from April 15 to May 17, 2021, though New Jersey’s first quarter individual estimated tax payments are still due on April 15. But for New Jerseyans who are struggling financially, they may want to take action to get their refunds — and possibly stimulus checks — as soon as possible.
Eligible families that didn’t receive their stimulus check, or believe they are owed more, can claim the payment on their taxes: Just look for the Recovery Rebate Credit line. The Treasury Department estimates close to 8 million households haven’t yet accessed their economic impact payment.
Be on the lookout for calls, emails, texts or social media posts from bad actors claiming to be from the IRS asking for you to take action to receive relief funds or tax refunds.
“The IRS does not demand immediate payment to access your stimulus payment or tax refund,” said Leila Amirhamzeh, the director of development for New Jersey Citizen…
