TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – With a messy tax season ahead, the Better Business Bureau has urged Kansans to file early and electronically to avoid scams.
The Better Business Bureau says Jan. 24 through April 18 is federal tax filing season and the Internal Revenue Service has wanted it could get a bit hairy.
BBB has urged taxpayers to file as early as possible, especially if expecting a refund. Early filing reduces the odds a scammer will beat filers to the punch, stealing identities, and then stealing refunds. It said the result could be a monumental headache for filers as they go through painstaking and lengthy processes attempting to correct their standing with the IRS.
The Bureau said staffing shortages combined with pandemic-related increased workloads have added to the IRS’s backlog. This has resulted in a heightened chance that taxes will be processed at a slower pace in 2022.
For those who file taxes electronically, the BBB said the expectation is that a refund will be delivered within 21 days. The IRS has urged filers to use the electronic route.
“You can set your clock to IRS scams happening around this time of year,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty. “It’s imperative that we stay vigilant of these scams and the damage they create in our communities.”
The BBB suggests the following steps to lower the chances of being victimized by a tax fraudster:
- Check and double-check the forms sent from employers to make sure information is accurate. Potential…
