Tag: Tax Day

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

400 Percent Increase in Scams this Tax Season

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According to the IRS, there has been a 400 percent increase in tax scams during this year’s filing season, compared to last year. The IRS has issued warnings about the growing threat of scams as the end of tax season nears. Scammers use tax season to trick taxpayers into disclosing confidential information so they can access bank accounts, make fraudulent purchases, apply for loans and steal tax refunds.

The most common way scammers steal W-2s is through phishing emails. Hackers create a fake email address, posing as a CEO or CFO of a company and send a request to an employee in payroll asking for a PDF of all employees’ W-2s.

According to the Department of Justice, stolen identity tax refund fraud has affected hundreds of thousands of taxpayers and has cost the United States Treasury billions of dollars.

Other common scams claim there is an urgent situation requiring taxpayers’ immediate attention, such as an issue with processing refunds, additional forms or an audit warning.

The best way to protect yourself from tax scams is to know the signs:

  • Emails that appear to be from the IRS with suspicious links and attachments
  • Text messages that instruct you to call a toll-free number
  • Phone calls with pre-recorded messages that ask for confidential information

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If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

 

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Student Loans, Timothy Kingcade Posts

The IRS Has Hired a Debt Collector That is Being Sued by The Government

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The IRS has hired for-profit debt collectors to collect on long-overdue taxes that the government lacks the resources to work on. Four debt collectors were selected for the new contracts, including one whose parent company is currently being sued by the U.S. government over its student loan debt collection practices.

Pioneer Credit Recovery is a subsidiary of Navient, a student loan debt collector. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a lawsuit against both companies in January claiming that the companies “systematically misled consumers.” A few months prior, Pioneer was selected as one of the IRS debt collection contacts in September, alongside ConServe, Performant and CBE Group.

Pioneer’s parent company Navient, formerly known as Sallie Mae, holds a federal government contract to service approximately $300 billion in student loans owed by 12 million borrowers.

The IRS was mandated by Congress to hire debt collectors, in language that was inserted into a $205 billion highway funding bill in late 2015. Experts on consumer protection say the new contracts create more potential for bad behavior in debt collection.

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For borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt, relief options are available. Many student loan borrowers are unaware that they have rights and repayment options available to them, such as postponement of loan payments, reduction of payments or even a complete discharge of the debt. It is important you contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Debt Relief, Timothy Kingcade Posts

5 Last Minute Tax Tips You Need Before Tax Day

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Tax filing day is rapidly approaching us on April 18th as countless Americans are scrambling to gather up their paperwork and get their returns in on time. Here are five last minute tips that can reduce what you owe or increase your refund.

  1. Report all of your income. If you try to hide some of your income that you have received throughout the year, you may end up on the IRS audit list. Any time you receive income, whether it’s payment for a freelance job, a dividend check or interest from your bank, you’re required to report that income and pay taxes on it. In fact, you should receive a 1099 form from each issuer that pays you.
  2. Know your tax credits. Tax credits work by reducing your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. For example, a $1,000 tax credit means you get to automatically deduct $1,000 from your tax bill in full. As you prepare to file your return, take some time to read up on the various tax credits out there. For example, there are tax credits geared toward parents, students and low earners that can add up to huge savings.
  3. Don’t estimate your deductions. On the other hand, tax deductions can save you money by excluding a portion of your income from taxes. Some of the deductions that are available to tax filers include: mortgage interest deductions, medical expense deductions and deductions for charitable contributions. However, you need to check your records and make sure your numbers are 100% accurate.
  4. Contribute to last year’s IRA. If you failed to put money into an IRA last year, here’s some good news: it’s not too late! You can make a contribution that counts for the 2016 tax year. In fact, you have until Tax Day, April 18th, to make a contribution to the previous year’s account.
  5. File Electronically. Filing electronically can help to eliminate math errors. If your return contains a major mistake, you could get audited or cause your refund to be delayed. In 2014, the IRS identified almost 2.3 million math errors from the previous year’s returns.

 

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If you are in financial crisis and considering filing for bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.

Bankruptcy Law, Credit, Timothy Kingcade Posts

Five Great Deals Not to Pass Up in April

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Many Americans are frugal with their spending during the month of April if they have recently paid a lot in taxes. However, if you budget properly, you can find some of the best deals during the month of April.

1. Wedding Registry Items: Summer is wedding season for many. If you have any weddings to attend this summer, April is a great month to begin shopping for wedding gifts. Appliances, cookware and linens go on sale in early spring. According to TheKnot.com, the top three stores where couples register are at Bed Bath & Beyond, Target and Macy’s. You can start by collecting coupons for these retailers and sign up for their email lists to find additional savings.

2. Cruises: Spring is a great time to start making travel plans for the following year. If you are planning a cruise, particularly during a peak season, you will find the best cruise deals during the month of April. CruiseCritic.com states you will find the best deals for European cruises. Cruise prices have also dropped for Australia, Hawaii and Mexico.

3. Roof: Summer is the best time for any roof repairs your home may need due to milder temperatures. If you are considering installing a cool roof, which reflects the sun and keeps the roof temperature down, it can help cut your air conditioning and energy bill costs. You can get great deals on cool roofs during the month of April.

4. Office Furniture: Office furniture tends to go on sale just after tax season. Another way to get great deals on office furniture is check for county auctions. Sometimes county schools and government agencies will begin Spring-cleaning and sell off their surplus office goods.

5. Tax Day Freebies: On April 15, many retailers offer discounts and special promotions to celebrate the end of tax season. For instance, Cinnabon offers two free Cinnabon Bites at certain locations. Arby’s will also be offering certain free foods.

Click here to read more on some of the great deals you can find during the month of April.

If you are in a financial crisis and are considering filing bankruptcy, contact an experienced Miami bankruptcy attorney who can advise you of all of your options. As an experienced CPA as well as a proven bankruptcy lawyer, Timothy Kingcade knows how to help clients take full advantage of the bankruptcy laws to protect their assets and get successful results. Since 1996 Kingcade & Garcia, P.A. has been helping people from all walks of life build a better tomorrow. Our attorneys’ help thousands of people every year take advantage of their rights under bankruptcy protection to restart, rebuild and recover. The day you hire our firm, we will contact your creditors to stop the harassment. You can also find useful consumer information on the Kingcade & Garcia website at www.miamibankruptcy.com.