I thought it would be a good idea to discuss an issue that affects many taxpayer returns, namely the IRS processes for identifying and stopping refund fraud. Attempted refund fraud has become a significant problem in our tax system. According to the most recent figures available, in the calendar year (CY) 2016, identity theft (IDT),…
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit given to taxpayers that earn a low-to-moderate income from a job or through self-employment. According to the IRS, around 25 million eligible filers received this credit in 2020 and the average EITC was approximately $2,461. However, many eligible taxpayers are missing out on this…
The IRS established the Taxpayer Protection Program (TPP) to proactively identify and prevent the processing of identity theft tax returns and assist taxpayers whose identities are used to file such returns. However, as part of the TPP process to identify potential identity theft returns, many legitimate taxpayer returns are also selected. When this happens, it…
Having the heat of the IRS on your back is never a fun experience. The unrelenting pressure of the federal government can be incredibly stressful and often intimidating, making back tax relief seem nearly impossible to achieve. Many taxpayers aren’t aware of IRS hardship procedures introduced by the IRS hardship program, and the opportunities it…
Thanks to the tax reform, beginning in 2019, the penalty for not having adequate health insurance, which the government refers to as the “individual shared responsibility payment,” will no longer apply. The elimination of this penalty as of 2019 does not impact the health care subsidy for low-income families, which is known as the premium…
The Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers who need their prior-year tax records to either complete their tax return or to validate their income and use Get Transcript Online or Get Transcript by Mail. Taxpayers often call or visit the IRS seeking their prior-year tax transcript, which is a record of their tax return. But the…
The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act was created in order to protect taxpayers and their families against fraud and permanently extend many expiring tax laws. The law, which was enacted December 18, 2015, first impacted tax returns filed in 2017 and will continue to impact returns until the law is overturned or changed.…
With Refund Transfer, you can pay your tax preparation fees and other authorized amounts from your refund. Plus, it’s a convenient, secure way to get your tax refund. When filing your taxes with us, you can use Refund Transfer to set up an FDIC-insured Refund Account to receive your refund. Once your refund is received,…
With millions of tax refunds being processed, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers they can get fast answers about their refund by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool available on IRS.gov and through the IRS2Go app. The IRS issues nine out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days, and the fastest way to get a refund…
National Taxpayer Advocate Nina E. Olson today released her 2018 Annual Report to Congress, describing challenges the IRS is facing as a result of the recent government shutdown and recommending that Congress provide the IRS with additional multi-year funding to replace its core 1960s-era information technology (IT) systems. The release of the National Taxpayer Advocate’s report…
