The Sarasota Journal

Your community-based independent news source.

Beware of COVID-19 tax relief scams

Tax Relief logo

STAFF REPORT — With many people now out of work either temporarily or permanently due to COVID-19-related closures, scams relating to the tax relief bill are on the rise.

The IRS will not email you or call you asking for your banking information or social security number. They also will not try to charge you a fee to process your application for special COVID-19-related loans or grants. If you receive any such communications, do not respond to them, and make sure to report them to the FBI at their special site for this at http://www.ic3.gov/ so they can be investigated.

According to the IRS website, the easiest way to receive your stimulus check is to make sure you’ve filed your 2019 or 2018 tax return. They will use that information to calculate and deposit your payment. If your direct deposit information has changed since then, they will be setting up an online portal for recording those changes.

You can monitor their website and find out more information at: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know and at: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Sarasota Journal Staff
Latest posts by Sarasota Journal Staff (see all)
%d bloggers like this: