January 23, 2014 11:24 am

Beware Tax Scams

With tax seasons comes the advent of tax scams by email and phone, including text messages. The IRS cautions taxpayers to be wary at this time of the year. Here are some pointers to help you:

  • The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.
  • The IRS never asks for personal identification numbers.
  • The IRS does not ask for access information to credit cards, bank accounts, or other financial accounts.
  • Do not open any attachments or click on any links from bogus communications.

If you have any questions about a communication purported to come from the IRS, call the Service at 800-829-1040 for confirmation.

Source: IR 2014-5

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Tax Glossary

Exemption

A fixed deduction allowed to every taxpayer, except those who may be claimed as a dependent by another person. Extra exemption deductions are allowed for a spouse on a joint return and for each qualifying dependent. A deduction of $3,400 is allowed for each exemption claimed on 2007 returns, but the deduction is phased out for certain high income individuals.

More terms