Beware of new scams
Recently, AGH has seen an increase in the variety and sophistication of tax scams. One example was a request for payment and records, including names and addresses of all shareholders, directors and officers, from what appeared to be an official source. After examination, we found it to be a scam – although a very convincing one, as it accurately referenced state statutes.
If you receive any communication (phone, email or mailed) from what appears to be an official source (such as a taxing, governmental or regulatory authority, including the IRS or state entities) – take the time to confirm that the document or request is authentic.
This may require contacting the organization directly through its website or a phone number you look up. Don’t use contact information you’ve received from the organization; take time to find it elsewhere. You may also want to work with AGH or other advisory professionals to help investigate its legitimacy. These extra minutes spent in confirmation could potentially save you from being phished, scammed, or otherwise defrauded.
As a reminder, the IRS does not generally contact taxpayers about tax matters or overdue taxes by phone, and it certainly does not call to request immediate payment by credit or debit card. Visit the IRS website for more information about tax scams.
If you receive any such requests and you are not certain of their legitimacy, contact an AGH tax professional to help review their authenticity.
Contact us
To learn more about how to protect yourself against these tax scams, please contact your AGH tax professional, or Shawn Sullivan using his information below.
Executive Vice President
Tax Services
Shawn leads the firm’s tax group and serves on AGH’s board of directors. In addition to enhancing business performance to minimize tax consequences, he has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, international tax and business structuring. Shawn has public and private experience in the fields of tax and accounting and works frequently with clients in the manufacturing, automotive, wholesale distribution, real estate development and construction industries.
A certified public accountant, Shawn is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (KSCPA) and chairs the KSCPA Committee on Taxation.
NOTE: Any advice contained in this material is not intended or written to be tax advice, and cannot be relied upon as such, nor can it be used for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed by the IRS or states, or promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.