So, I wrote last week about choosing your tax professional well. That also includes those of you whose income is low enough to be entitled to use free tax preparation on line. (Oh- and if you pay to use those online tax services, these same admonitions apply.)
Keep in mind that the IRS now admits that more that ¾ million of taxpayers’ data (actually, it’s much higher- because many of these folks were family filings- so that means at least two persons, if not the kids involved) has been compromised by them. Not by credit card companies. Not by OPM. The IRS.
Well, if you are worried that IRS that has succumbed to cyberattacks, why aren’t you petrified if you use services from folks who don’t even try to protect your identity and security? That list below are folks that are part of the IRS Free File Alliance (for those folks whose income is below $ 62K and can obtain free filing) that don’t maintain sufficient safeguards. And, it’s not just that security fails for those at the lower economic levels- it’s for these firms’ entire site- for everyone using their services.
That means you can be subject to tax refund fraud. Not this year necessarily- but soon enough. Because these sites are letting thieves harvest your information- and next year or the year after, those thieves can use that identity (your social security number) and your W2 information (creating fake W2’s). And, then will submit ‘your’ fraudulent taxes at the earliest possible moment, scooping you- and getting money from the IRS. (I kid you not! Click on the link and you will see how easy it is to get those fake documents.)
So, choose wisely. (Choose us, of course.) Because it IS nearly your information at stake. Unless, you don’t worry if you can’t get a credit card, a loan, or file your taxes on time- because your identity has been stolen.
Tax time has become a most dangerous time-danger lurks where least expected. | https://t.co/hRa2wet3Wn via @Adjuvancy