Unfortunately, tax return fraud has become a regular occurrence. It used to be uncommon for a client to get a call from

someone pretending to be from the IRS. Now almost everyone has received one of "those" calls.

In light of this, there are some things that you should be aware of:

1. The IRS will NEVER call you to discuss your tax situation over the phone. They will always contact you in writing first. If you get a phone call from someone who is pretending to be from the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board, just hang up.

2. You will not get an email from the IRS or the Franchise Tax Board asking for information. NEVER. You should simply send any email purporting to be from a taxing agency to your SPAM folder.

If you are a client and you receive anything in writing (through the post office) from the IRS or your state tax agency, send a copy to me before you do anything. I will confirm that It’s legitimate and let you know what actions you need to take.

Be careful, but if you follow the above suggestions, you should be OK.

Here is a link to the IRS fraud page:

IRS Identity theft information

Here is a link to the Franchise Tax Board fraud page:

Franchise Tax Board identity theft information

The above is considered to be general tax information and is not intended to be used as tax advice. If you believe that any of the above applies to you, please consult with a tax professional. See our Legal Statement.