Brenneman & Associates, PC

Back-to-School Reminder for Parents and Students: Check Out College Tax Credits for 2015 and Years Ahead WASHINGTON With another school year just around the corner, the Internal Revenue Service today reminded parents and students that now is a good time to see if they will qualify for either of two college tax credits or other education-related tax benefits when they file their 2015 federal income tax returns. In general, the American Opportunity Tax Credit or Lifetime Lear...Continue reading

WATCH OUT!!! SCAMMERS ARE SCAMMING AGAIN!!! IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scam An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers, including recent immigrants, has been making the rounds throughout the country. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. They may know a lot about their targets, and they usually alter the caller ID to make... it look like the IRS is calling. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license. In many cases, the caller becomes hostile and insulting. Or, victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information. If the phone isn't answered, the scammers often leave an urgent callback request. Note that the IRS will never: 1) call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill; 2) demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe; 3) require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card; 4) ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or 5) threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

IRS Online Directory of Preparers has launched! It lists the following tax pros who have active preparer tax ID numbers: Lawyers, CPAs, enrolled agents, enrolled retirement plan agents, enrolled actuaries and anyone who, by Dec. 2014, met all the requirements for the agency's voluntary annual filing season program. Brenneman & Associates are proud to say that we have a couple of people on the list. Come check us out! http://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf

Happy President's Day! :)