topic Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ...... in Community Chat

2013 Tax Refunds ......

ShowMe — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:08:12 GMT

Boy, it has started already. On the news now they are talking about how many crooks there are out there already this year. Folks that are filing via internet......and getting the refund by direct deposit......be very careful.

I will not be filing anything via internet. Will send it in via USPS, and will get my refund via the same way.........

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

biancardi — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:16:04 GMT

if someone is filing your tax return on line fraudulently, it doesn't matter what you do.

As soon as it was available, I have always filed online and gotten direct deposit. I used to file by phone.

mailing it in is more prone to loss and fraud, I would think.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

terrier3 — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:18:02 GMT

I got my federal refund in one week (via e-filing) and my state return came in today (2 weeks).

One year someone stole and CASHED my refund - right out of my mailbox.

I'm happy for direct deposit!

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SurvivedOne — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:20:58 GMT

What exactly are you warning people to be careful of??

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

glb613 — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:22:59 GMT

On 2/18/2014 SurvivedOne said:
What exactly are you warning people to be careful of??

Sounds like doing you taxes online. It's much safer than sending it through USPS.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SydneyH — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:27:12 GMT

I always file online, scammers can still steal checks from snail mail.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

ShowMe — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:31:34 GMT

On 2/18/2014 SurvivedOne said:
What exactly are you warning people to be careful of??

If I knew how the money is being stolen, I would tell you. I was just trying to issue a warning to be careful......

Guess I shouldn't have started this thread......

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

shesallthat — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:36:02 GMT

if i was getting a refund there is no way i would have them send it by mail! i remember one year they caught people stealing them out of mailboxes because they knew of course the time frame for refunds and when they should show up.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SurvivedOne — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:37:00 GMT

On 2/18/2014 ShowMe said:
On 2/18/2014 SurvivedOne said:
What exactly are you warning people to be careful of??

If I knew how the money is being stolen, I would tell you. I was just trying to issue a warning to be careful......

Guess I shouldn't have started this thread......

You aren't conveying what there is to be careful of...what are these "crooks" you referred to supposedly doing??

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SurvivedOne — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:39:25 GMT

On 2/18/2014 shesallthat said:
if i was getting a refund there is no way i would have them send it by mail! i remember one year they caught people stealing them out of mailboxes because they knew of course the time frame for refunds and when they should show up.

Geez, why would anyone deal with snail mail for any reason.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

TaxyLady — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:39:46 GMT

I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

serenity4ever — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:45:08 GMT

Perhaps the OP heard something about filing on line and people using stolen social security numbers....

Regarding filing early.....

It can also help protect you from fraud. In 2011, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that the IRS had sent out roughly $3.6 billion to more than 1 million people filing fake tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers. The red flag often isn't raised until the legitimate taxpayer attempts to file with that same Social Security number.

"If you file early, it negates the opportunity for someone who's stolen your identity to use your information because you've already filed and you're in their system," Falanga says.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

BellaPaprika — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:46:38 GMT

From what I've read it's people filing your tax return before you do either by mail or online. They will file online with phony income figures because they don't have your actual W2s. They must get your soc. sec. # somehow as well. It said you will eventually get your real refund but it will be delayed while they figure out which of the two filings are real.

This is the advice they listed:

You can't prevent tax-related identity theft—we're all vulnerable, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

If you file by mail, do it at a post office, not from an unlocked mailbox in front of your house.
If you file electronically, use a secure computer on a secure network. It's OK to check the weather using a Wi-Fi hot spot, but don't do anything financial or tax-related on a public Wi-Fi network.
Get your return done as soon as you can. It really is in your best interest to file as early as possible.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

MaggieToo — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:49:19 GMT

Since I don't get refunds, I am lazy about getting mine done. I have only now started gathering my papers to take to the preparer.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

momma3gs — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:50:34 GMT

Thanks for the timely warning, ShowMe, and to you, BlueCollarBabe.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SydneyH — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:54:03 GMT

On 2/18/2014 TaxyLady said:
I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Still not sure what the 'warning' is, my CPA has never had a loss of secure information and he has a lot of long-time clients.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

BellaPaprika — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:59:01 GMT

On 2/18/2014 SydneyH said:
On 2/18/2014 TaxyLady said:
I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Still not sure what the 'warning' is, my CPA has never had a loss of secure information and he has a lot of long-time clients.

Read my post #12. It's not CPAs that they're concerned about apparently.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SurvivedOne — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 02:00:04 GMT

On 2/18/2014 SydneyH said:
On 2/18/2014 TaxyLady said:
I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Still not sure what the 'warning' is, my CPA has never had a loss of secure information and he has a lot of long-time clients.

Makes no sense to me either. As well in 2014, don't get why usually older people think its "safer" to mail cheques, bills, returns etc. All your personal info, name, address, banking info, social security info, etc. is sitting in an envelope that anyone can easily steal.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

biancardi — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 02:00:15 GMT

On 2/18/2014 serenity4ever said:
Perhaps the OP heard something about filing on line and people using stolen social security numbers....

Regarding filing early.....

It can also help protect you from fraud. In 2011, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that the IRS had sent out roughly $3.6 billion to more than 1 million people filing fake tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers. The red flag often isn't raised until the legitimate taxpayer attempts to file with that same Social Security number.

"If you file early, it negates the opportunity for someone who's stolen your identity to use your information because you've already filed and you're in their system," Falanga says.

that is exactly what I was referring to in my first post on this thread.

Re: 2013 Tax Refunds ......

SurvivedOne — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 02:04:58 GMT

I just checked CNN's money page and found an ariticle that now as its tax time, brining forth info regarding tax preparers filing fraudulent returns as has been the case prior.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/18/pf/taxes/tax-preparers/index.html?