Scott M. Sawyer

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Taxpayers should hang up if tax season scammers come calling
 

January 2023 - Washington The tax filing season is a popular time for scammers to call and try to dupe unsuspecting taxpayers. These thieves often make threatening or alarming calls posing as the IRS to try to steal taxpayer money or personal information.

However, it’s easy for people to recognize this scam by knowing how the IRS contacts taxpayers.

The IRS will never:

• Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.

• Demand that taxes be paid without giving taxpayers the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.

• Call unexpectedly about a tax refund.

Taxpayers who receive these phone calls should:

• Record the number and then hang up the phone immediately.

• Report the call by visiting the Hotline page of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and using an IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting form or by calling 800-366-4484.

  • Forms to report fraud are available on the Hotline page of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration website. Taxpayers just click the appropriate option under “IRS Scams and Fraud” and follow the instructions.

• Report the number to phishing@irs.gov and put "IRS Phone Scam" in the subject line.

More information:
Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts
Report Phishing and Online Scams

 

 

IRS DELAYS REPORTING OF $600 PAYMENTS UNTIL 2023

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DEC 22, 2022 - WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a delay in reporting thresholds for third-party settlement organizations set to take effect for the upcoming tax filing season.

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As a result of this delay, third-party settlement organizations will not be required to report tax year 2022 transactions on a Form 1099-K to the IRS or the payee for the lower, $600 threshold amount enacted as part of the American Rescue Plan of 2021.

As part of this, the IRS released guidance today outlining that calendar year 2022 will be a transition period for implementation of the lowered threshold reporting for third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs) that would have generated Form 1099-Ks for taxpayers.

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"The IRS and Treasury heard a number of concerns regarding the timeline of implementation of these changes under the American Rescue Plan," said Acting IRS Commissioner Doug O'Donnell. "To help smooth the transition and ensure clarity for taxpayers, tax professionals and industry, the IRS will delay implementation of the 1099-K changes. The additional time will help reduce confusion during the upcoming 2023 tax filing season and provide more time for taxpayers to prepare and understand the new reporting requirements."

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The American Rescue Plan of 2021 changed the reporting threshold for TPSOs. The new threshold for business transactions is $600 per year; changed from the previous threshold of more than 200 transactions per year, exceeding an aggregate amount of $20,000. The law is not intended to track personal transactions such as sharing the cost of a car ride or meal, birthday or holiday gifts, or paying a family member or another for a household bill.

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Under the law, beginning January 1, 2023, a TPSO is required to report third-party network transactions paid in 2022 with any participating payee that exceed a minimum threshold of $600 in aggregate payments, regardless of the number of transactions. TPSOs report these transactions by providing individual payee's an IRS Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third-Party Network Transactions.

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The transition period described in Notice 2023-10, delays the reporting of transactions in excess of $600 to transactions that occur after calendar year 2022. The transition period is intended to facilitate an orderly transition for TPSO tax compliance, as well as individual payee compliance with income tax reporting. A participating payee, in the case of a third-party network transaction, is any person who accepts payment from a third-party settlement organization for a business transaction.

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The change under the law is hugely important because tax compliance is higher when amounts are subject to information reporting, like the Form 1099-K. However, the IRS noted it must be managed carefully to help ensure that 1099-Ks are only issued to taxpayers who should receive them. In addition, it's important that taxpayers understand what to do as a result of this reporting, and tax preparers and software providers have the information they need to assist taxpayers.

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Additional details on the delay will be available in the near future along with additional information to help taxpayers and the industry. For taxpayers who may have already received a 1099-K as a result of the statutory changes, the IRS is working rapidly to provide instructions and clarity so that taxpayers understand what to do.

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The IRS also noted that the existing 1099-K reporting threshold of $20,000 in payments from over 200 transactions will remain in effect.

 

 

 

 

MASSACHUSETTS TO ISSUE REFUNDS NOVEMBER 1, 2022

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BOSTON: In this past fiscal year, Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), Massachusetts tax revenue collections exceeded the annual tax revenue cap set by Chapter 62F of the Massachusetts General Laws by $2.941 billion. In accordance with the statute, this excess revenue is being returned to taxpayers.

 

In general, eligible taxpayers will receive a credit in the form of a refund of 14.0312% of their Massachusetts personal income tax liability for Tax Year 2021. This percentage was finalized by the Department of Revenue after the 2021 individual tax return filing extension deadline of October 17, 2022. Please note that credits may be reduced due to refund intercepts, including for unpaid tax liability, unpaid child support, and certain other debts.

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Distribution of refunds will begin on November 1, 2022 – eligible taxpayers will receive their refund automatically through direct deposit or as a check sent through the mail. If you have already filed your 2021 tax return and you had a tax liability, no action is needed, and you should receive your refund by mid-December of 2022.  If you have not yet filed your 2021 return, you are still eligible if you file by September 15, 2023 and, if eligible for a refund, you should receive it approximately one month after you file.

 

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WASHINGTON MARCH 2022

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— The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers today that the fastest and easiest way to check on tax refunds is by using the Where's My Refund?  tool on IRS.gov or through the IRS2Go mobile app.

This year, more than ever before, those who don't normally have to file a tax return may wish to do so to get child-related tax credits that were expanded by the American Rescue Plan. These include the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit.

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Refund updates

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Filing electronically and using direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to file an accurate return and receive a tax refund. Taxpayers can use Where's My Refund? to start checking their refund status within 24 hours after an e-filed return is received or four weeks after the taxpayer mails a paper return.

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The tool's tracker displays progress through three phases:

1. Return Received,

2. Refund Approved and

3. Refund Sent.

 

Refund timing

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Most tax refunds are issued within 21 days, however, some may take longer. There are several reasons this can happen:

• The return includes a claim for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit.

• The time between the IRS issuing the refund and the bank posting it to an account may vary since many banks do not process payments on weekends or holidays.

• The return may require additional review.

• The return may include errors or be incomplete.

• The return could be affected by identity theft or fraud.

 

The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if more information is needed to process a return.

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Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit

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Due to changes to the tax law made by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act (PATH Act), the IRS can't issue Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) refunds before mid-February. This includes the entire refund, not just the part that's related to the credit claimed on a tax return.

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Where's My Refund? and IRS2Go are updated for most early EITC/ACTC filers with an estimated deposit date by February 19, if they file their taxes early.

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If a filer claimed the EITC or the ACTC, they can expect to get their refund March 1 if:

• They file their return online,

• They choose to get their refund by direct deposit and

• No issues were found with their return.

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Ignore refund myths

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Some taxpayers mistakenly believe they can expedite their refund by ordering a tax transcript, calling the IRS or calling their tax preparer. Ordering a tax transcript will not help a taxpayer get their refund faster or find out when they'll get their refund. The information available on Where's My Refund? is the same. inf