State and Community Partners Warn Vermonters not to Fall for Scams Before April 18th Filing Deadline
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Taxes, Vermont Attorney General TJ Donovan, and Capstone Community Action are warning Vermonters about IRS tax scams and encouraging Vermonters to report scams and access free tax preparation services.
“With the tax filing deadline around the corner, we’re raising awareness about fraud,” said Attorney General T.J. Donovan. “Vermonters should be on the lookout for IRS tax scams over the next two weeks.” The IRS scam is typically a telephone call saying you owe “back taxes” or outstanding payments are due to the government, typically from callers claiming to be “Internal Revenue Service”, “IRS”, and “US Treasury and Legal Affairs.”
“I received one of these phony IRS calls and wasn’t sure if it was real or not,” said Cheryl Willette of Roxbury, Vermont. “I ended up having multiple calls with threatening people
before I figured it all out. It was a very scary experience. I don’t want anyone to fall prey to these awful scams,” she said.
“Since 2013, we have stopped more than $3 million in fraudulent tax refunds from getting into criminal hands,” said Kaj Samsom, commissioner for the Vermont Department of Taxes. “Protecting taxpayer money is of the highest priority for the department, so we’ve implemented new measures to fight fraud, including more robust fraud detection software and increased training for our tax examiners.”
According to Samson, if there is a problem with a return or tax is past due, the department’s first step is to send a letter via the U.S. Postal Service and ask the taxpayer to respond. The department will not call or email a taxpayer without prior written communication. In any case, if a call or email seems suspicious, hang up immediately or delete the email. If you have been notified by the IRS that a fraudulent federal return was received in your name, contact the Vermont Department of Taxes immediately at 802-828-2865.
The Office of the Attorney General also cautions Vermonters not to respond to these callers. If you think you may owe back taxes, hang up and contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040. Vermonters who may be targets of scamming activity to report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) at 1-800-649-2424, or to go to the CAP website for more information on reported scams in Vermont: https://consumer.vermont.gov.
For 26 years, Capstone’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program has provided free tax preparation services by IRS-certified volunteers to thousands of lower income households. This year our program can assist any household with an income up to $54,000. Our volunteers help to ensure taxpayers receive eligible credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is considered one of the nation’s most successful anti-poverty programs by the
Center for Law and Social Policy. In 2016, Capstone prepared and filed state and federal taxes for 1,202 Vermonters, generating more than $1.4 million refunds. Through March 2017 we have already assisted over 1,275 people. For more information about the VITA program please visit www.capstonevt.org and (802) 477-5148.
“VITA is an outstanding program that exemplifies Capstone’s mission,” states Dan Hoxworth, Capstone’s Executive Director. “These returns act as an important economic stimulus for those we serve and are often the single largest influx of revenue during the year. Funds typically go towards basic life necessities, such as paying heat and utility bills during the cold months; car repairs so a person can get to work; and healthcare expenses, such as taking their children to the dentist. These funds are often critical to creating a level of stability in the lives of those we serve.”
Source: Vermont Attorney General’s Office 4.3.2017