Tax refund scam

We need to talk about an urgent warning the IRS has issued about a new tax refund scam. Here's how it works. Thieves steal client data from tax professionals. Then, using that data, they file fraudulent tax returns and use the taxpayers' real bank accounts to deposit erroneous tax refunds. Finally, the thieves, posing as IRS or other law enforcement, call attention to the error and ask taxpayers to return the money to them. To get the funds from real taxpayers, thieves use various tactics. In one version, criminals posing as debt collection agency officials acting on behalf of the IRS reach out to taxpayers to say a refund was deposited in error and ask the taxpayers to forward the money to their collection agency. The other you’ll get an automated call threatening the taxpayer with fraud charges, they’ll give a case number and instructions to call to return the refund. If this happens to you call your tax preparer and go to the IRS.gov website tax topic 161 and follow the instructions.