The Internal Revenue Service is warning of a new scam targeting
potential recipients of the Advance Child Tax Credit.
The Internal Revenue Service is warning of a new scam targeting potential recipients of the Advance Child Tax Credit.
The scheme involves persons who promise to speed up the payment of the Advance Child Tax Credit checks. The catch is the taxpayer must agree to pay $20 in exchange for preparation of a form that the preparer says will expedite the mailing of their check.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that no person or organization can “speed up” the payment of tax benefits. Taxpayers do not have to take any action to get the new benefit, which features an advance payment for up to $400 per qualifying child. The Treasury Department and IRS will perform all the calculations and automatically mail a notice and a check to each eligible taxpayer. The first checks were mailed July 25.
“The only thing the taxpayer needs to do is cash the check,” said Mark W. Everson, IRS Commissioner. “If you qualify, we will send you a notice. There’s no need to call, no need to apply, no need to fill out another form. The IRS will do all the work. A few days after the notice, you will get the check.”
The IRS Web site at www.irs.gov has a new feature to let taxpayers know the amount and mailing date of their advance payment checks. Click on “Where’s My Advance Child Tax Credit?” for details on the information needed from the 2002 return to check on the status of a payment. The status check will also tell if a payment may be reduced because of taxes owed or an outstanding non-tax federal debt, or why a taxpayer with a child does not qualify for an advance payment.
If you encounter this latest tax scam or suspect tax fraud or abuse in some other situation, report it to your nearest Internal Revenue Service office or call the IRS tax fraud hotline at 1-800-829-0433.
