by Fresh Start Tax | Sep 15, 2012 | Tax News, Tax Returns
On June 2012 the IRS issued a consumer alerts targeting the Department of Defense Military Members. Crooks will stop at nothing even targeting military families.
The Military Alert
Military taxpayers should be on the lookout for a new, email-based phishing scam now circulating that targets Department of Defense military members, retirees and civilian employees.
A Email Target
The particular email appears to come from Defense Finance and Accounting Services and displays a .mil email address.
The email states that those receiving disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may be able to obtain additional funds from the IRS.
The scams always promise various amounts of money.
The Email recipients are then asked to send various VA and IRS documents containing their personal and financial information, such as copies of VA award letters or their income tax returns, to an address in Florida. Florida is one of the major homes for tax fraud and lead the nation in tax ID theft.
The information the thieves receive on these documents is then used by the fraudsters to commit identity theft.
Identity thieves use someone’s personal data to empty the victim’s financial accounts, run up charges on the victim’s existing credit cards or apply for new loans, credit cards, services or benefits in the victim’s name.
If this has happened to you, you can also bet they will file a tax return for you next year so file on opening day or call Fresh Start Tax LLC.for IRS representation help.
by Fresh Start Tax | Sep 12, 2012 | Tax News
I remember many many years ago representing a large IRS collection client and we had an appointment in one of the twin towers in the world trade center. I remember like it was yesterday going up the large elevators and witnessing the enormity of the building and the large amounts of humanity going to and fro.
It was quit an experience from a person who lives in Ft. Lauderdale. I will never forget that visit.
I also remember clearly walking into my seminary class when 9/11 actually happened. A very wise and astute seminary professor explained that this was an example of the God slowly lifting His hedge of protection from the United States.I firmly believe this because of our nations disobedience to the holy and moral law to the will of God.
I firmly believe that.
Today my heart is still heavy regarding the tragedy and events that took place and the cowards who carried on the act of terror. Today you are all in our Fresh Start Tax LLC family prayers.
Facts:
$2.2 billion donated to victims
2976 innocent victims killed
Over 90 countries represented in the murders
The new freedom tower 400 feet taller than the twin
May 11 2012 mastermind killed
by Fresh Start Tax | Sep 10, 2012 | Tax News, Uncategorized
It is finally happened, a tax ID thief going to jail.
A Miami man who filed 486 fraudulent tax returns and then arranged to have the refunds deposited on to pre-paid Walmart and Visa gift cards has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
Woody Ulysse, 26, pleaded guilty in April to one count of Access Device Fraud after bilking the United States government and taxpayers counting on there refunds of about $507,041 in the scam. About $1000 per tax return. Many of these poor victims will not get there refunds for at least 6 months.
The United States Secret Service and IRS began investigating 486 fraudulent tax returns filed between Jan. 16, 2011 and April 4, 2011, according to the criminal complaint against Ulysse.
The tax returns “utilized compromised police and firefighter identities,” said a press release issued by the United States Attorney’s Office Thursday.Someone must have hacked into the data base of the police and firefighters and stolen social security numbers. Michael D. Sullivan former IRS agent said that all the thief needs is a social security number and a name.
Filed online using Turbo Tax, the returns requested that any refunds be electronically deposited on to Walmart, Visa and Green Dot pre-paid money cards.
On March 15, 2011, a Delray Beach police detective reported that a fraudulent tax return filed on Feb. 2 had used personal information from a victim only identified as R.M.
The $1,000 refund was issued to a Green Dot pre-paid debit card account created in the name of a victim identified as M.D.
Three days later, investigators obtained surveillance video from a SunTrust Bank in Hollywood. The footage showed WoodyUlysse using the Green Dot card to withdraw $400 on Feb. 13.
On March 30, an IRS CI special agent reported a third victim named T.L. whose fraudulently filed tax return was filed Feb. 2. The $1,000 refund went out to M.D.’s Green Dot account.
The next day, agents obtained video footage of Ulysse using the same Green Dot card to withdraw $1,200 from three Bank of America branches in Broward County between Feb. 11 and 15, 2011.
Investigators contacted R.M., M.D., and T.L.., who said they did not give Ulysse permission to file tax returns on their behalf.
On Oct. 28, 2011, Ulysse was arrested in Miramar for driving with a suspended license.
Miramar police searched him and found 11 pre-paid Walmart Money Cards with a total value of $32,323.00. Each card had been filled with fraudulent income tax refunds.
Agents executed a search warrant at an undisclosed address, finding 39 documents including hand-written lists, printouts from local dental offices and computer printouts containing dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and names inside a plastic bag hidden behind a refrigerator.
It’s not been disclosed how Ulysse got all of this information but we do know that some data based had to be hacked.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement records search showed that before the tax refund caper, Ulysse had been arrested four times.
by Fresh Start Tax | Sep 7, 2012 | Tax News
As if banking regulations were not enough, still a new tax law will go in effect to hurt foreign bank investors into the US.
The Florida International Bankers Association has a two-fold strategy to address new banking disclosure regulations that it says could hurt foreign depositors and also hurt Miami’s reputation as a hemispheric banking center.
The Florida International Bankers Association is not only working with U.S. legislators on a potential legal remedy that would delay or prevent the law from going into effect, but also reaching out to its own members to educate them so they can share the correct information with their customers as well as there client base. Changes are on the way.
The new tax rule, which goes iinto effect Jan. 1, requires all banks and financial institutions to report information to the Internal Revenue Service on non-taxable interest paid on accounts held by non-resident foreign nationals.
It applies to accounts that earn more than $10 in interest in a year. This absolutely will hurt some of the US banks. Investors will avoid the US.
Potentially such information could be shared with the account holders home countries raising privacy concerns among some international account holders.
Some also fear their home governments might make politically motivated requests for their bank information or that data indicating their wealth will leak out, bankers said.
It is UBS all over again. Everyone will have to take a deep breathe and see which way the dust will settle.
What will probably happen as a result.
Some depositors may move their money to jurisdictions such as Panama or the Cayman Islands or other safe havens that have stronger privacy laws.
FIBA has heard that several million dollars have left Florida for other jurisdictions since the new regulation was passed in April.
The U.S. banking and financial system is still the safest and soundest place in the world to put your money. There is a process by which the information is collected but not automatically exchanged with home countries. Everyone is looking for safe havens. The bottom line, no one wants to disclose and no one wants to be taxed.
It is the IRS that will make the determination on whether to release the information and only as a part of a tax evasion investigation or something of that nature.
Stay tuned for more on this in the future. It is always best to check with a strong and knowledgeable tax consultant. 1-866-700-1040
by Fresh Start Tax | Aug 23, 2012 | Tax News
Are you a victim of identity theft?
Do not go in to the IRS Office, you are wasting your time. I am a former IRS Agent and believe this, the local offices cannot help you.
Also, do not panic. You will get your tax refund back but you can expect to wait at least 6 months.
What to do immediately:
1. The very first thing you want to do is to call 1-800-908-4490 that telephone number is the tax theft hot line.
You can get the information you need from following the prompts.
2. Immediately fill out the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039,
This is the fastest track to get your refund back, follow all the instructions. This is the sole key to get your refund back. Download from IRS.gov
3. Check the Credit Bureaus and make sure the rest of your identity was not compromised.You should ask for all your credit reports. See below the contact information.
A. Equifax
www.equifax.com
1-800-525-6285
B. Experian
www.experian.com
1-888-397-3742
C. TransUnion
www.transunion.com
1-800-680-7289
A good tax tip for next year. Have Former IRS agent prepare your income tax return.
Let us prepare your tax return for next year. We can e file early and protect you from this problem ever happening again.
by Fresh Start Tax | Aug 23, 2012 | Tax News
Tax Identity Theft – Miami, Tampa Top Cities for Tax Fraud – Refunds will take forever
Tampa and Miami were mentioned as the top cities where potentially fraudulent 2010 tax returns were filed last year.
Nationally, thieves are suspected of using the identities of 2,274 children, 105,000 dead people and almost 1 million people who don’t normally file returns to collect $5.2 billion in refunds.
The Inspector General’s analysis found that incidents of identity theft jumped 155 percent last year.
“The report really underscores just how bad a problem ID tax fraud is in Florida and around the country,” said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who asked the Treasury Inspector General last year to investigate the extent of the problem. “It’s become an epidemic that’s costing law-abiding U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars. And it’s one we’ve got to fix. That’s why I’ve filed legislation aimed at putting a stop to these fraudsters.”
The IRS disputed some of the watchdog’s findings, including estimates of $21 billion in potentially fraudulent tax returns in the next five years.
Plantation IRS spokesman Mike Dobzinski said Monday that his agency “along with the Department of Justice, has significantly stepped up its activities to pursue those who attempt to steal identities to commit tax fraud.” That will help cut down on future abuse, he said.
But Rep. Boustany was concerned that the IRS wasn’t spotting suspicious multiple filings at one address.
In addition to the Belle Glade home, an Orlando post office box allegedly received $1,088,691 for 703 suspected fraudulent tax returns filed, he said.
Even though the IRS is putting in systems to spot ID theft, it will take years before all the checks and balances are put in place to curtail the problem. The IRS computer programs are not sophisticated enough at this point to deter the sheer volume of fraud.
For those needing there refund checks, be patient. do not bothering going in to the IRS offices. Everything can be done on line and is actually faster.
What to do if you are a victim:
Your identity may have been stolen if you receive a letter from the IRS stating or learn from a tax professional that …
1. You filed more than one tax return or someone has already filed using your information.
2. you have a balance due, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file and or,
3. you received wages from an employer you have not worked for.
If you receive such a letter from the IRS and you suspect your identity has been stolen, respond immediately to the name, address, phone number or fax listed on the IRS letter or contact the IRS to determine if the letter is a legitimate IRS letter.
If you become the victim of identity theft outside of the tax system or believe you may be at risk due to a lost/stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, etc., you are encouraged to contact the IRS at the Identity Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free at 1-800-908-4490 so we can take steps to further secure your account.
You will need to fill out the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039. Please be sure to write legibly and follow the instructions on the back of the form.
Remember, it is useless to going to an IRS office for help. that does not speed up the process.
