Not only is it tax season, it’s the season for tax scams. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning taxpayers to be alert to possible scams, including fraudulent tax preparers and phony tax refund loans.
Raoul says it’s important to check on tax preparers through resources like the Better Business Bureau, or to simply use available, reliable sources for tax assistance, including the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.
In addition, Raoul says tax refund loans, secured by an expected refund, can subject you to exorbitant interest rates and fees, and don’t usually provide money much faster than just waiting for your refund to arrive.
He also recommends getting an Identity Protection PIN number from the IRS as an extra safeguard.
