How to do your taxes and not get scammed

If you choose to do your own taxes online, be sure to download the latest updates for your Internet Security Program. If you do not have an Internet Security software installed, buy and install one before putting any personal information into a tax form online.Never open or respond to any email that appears to be from the IRS, Turbo Tax or any other online tax software, banking or credit card institution. Any organization that you have provided with personal information, such as your social security number or bank account number, will never send you an email or call you asking you to verify that personal information. Never. Even if someone calls or emails you saying that you are entitled to a bigger refund, that there was an error on your tax form or even that you are in some kind of trouble, do not fulfill their request!Instead, call the company directly with a phone number provided on official documents, not from a voice mail message. Or, if you received a suspicious email, instead, go to the company's website by typing in their web address directly into your browser, not by clicking on an email link. If a call or email makes you feel concerned in any way, do not respond. Call the supposed company in question directly and ask if there are any alerts on your account. Then, report what the caller or email said.If you didn't know to check the Better Business Bureau website and you've already hired a tax preparer, just be on the lookout for suspicious practices. The tax preparer should never encourage you to put any kind of false information on your tax forms, including exaggerated deductions or charitable giving that you didn't actually give. The tax preparer should never guarantee you'll get a big refund or be overly focused on your refund. A good tax preparer will simply go over the facts of your financial status for the past year and do the necessary calculations before stating whether you'll get any refund, or owe the IRS.Furthermore, your tax preparer should be very forthcoming with everything that pertains to your taxes. After all, they are your taxes. If a tax preparer refuses or even seems hesitant to give you a copy of your tax return or any forms he or she used in the process, this should be a red flag to you. Every tax prepared should also have a Tax Preparer Identification Number that they put on your tax return next to their signature. If they have not obtained this number or don't show it on your tax return, take all of your personal information, demand they give you anything they have copied and leave without paying that company. Report them to the Better Business Bureau as well.First, if you are going to hire someone to do your taxes for you, check to see if the company is reputable by searching for the company's name on the Better Business Bureau website. There, you will find out if the company has had any complaints against them and whether or not those complaints were resolved. If a tax preparer has enough complaints that it makes you feel uncomfortable, look for another company to do your taxes. If you can find a company that is actually a member of the Better Business Bureau, you can be sure that they've already had to comply with rules that ensure their business practices are run with honesty and integrity. View the list »
It's tax time again; don't get scammed!

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Tax scams run rampant in the first few months of every year. Dishonest people trying to get your tax refund money or your personal information are lurking at the other end of your phone line, just beyond your computer keyboard and sometimes, even right next to you.

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So, how do you file your taxes and not end up in trouble with the IRS or lose everything you have? There are some basic safety rules you should always follow. Beyond that, learn to trust your intuition.

Whether you are doing your own taxes or hiring a professional tax preparer to help, there are many ways you can safeguard yourself so that your personal information doesn't fall into the wrong hands and also so that you don't end up in serious legal trouble.

It's important to familiarize yourself with internet security, common tax scams and identity theft–plus have a basic understanding of how filing your taxes works. In addition, remember that anything that sounds too good to be true always is and anything that makes you feel uncomfortable in any way is an internal warning sign you need to listen to.

In this article, we'll take a look at some specific ways you can protect yourself from tax scams and ID theft. Click through the list to get started.

For more tips on how to best protect your health, your pocketbook, your sanity and more, follow Jaelyn Jamik on FACEBOOK, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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  • First, if you are going to hire someone to do your taxes for you, check to see if the company is reputable by searching for the company's name on the Better Business Bureau website. There, you will find out if the company has had any complaints against them and whether or not those complaints were resolved. If a tax preparer has enough complaints that it makes you feel uncomfortable, look for another company to do your taxes. If you can find a company that is actually a member of the Better Business Bureau, you can be sure that they've already had to comply with rules that ensure their business practices are run with honesty and integrity. 
  • If you didn't know to check the Better Business Bureau website and you've already hired a tax preparer, just be on the lookout for suspicious practices. The tax preparer should never encourage you to put any kind of false information on your tax forms, including exaggerated deductions or charitable giving that you didn't actually give. The tax preparer should never guarantee you'll get a big refund or be overly focused on your refund. A good tax preparer will simply go over the facts of your financial status for the past year and do the necessary calculations before stating whether you'll get any refund, or owe the IRS.Furthermore, your tax preparer should be very forthcoming with everything that pertains to your taxes. After all, they are your taxes. If a tax preparer refuses or even seems hesitant to give you a copy of your tax return or any forms he or she used in the process, this should be a red flag to you. Every tax prepared should also have a Tax Preparer Identification Number that they put on your tax return next to their signature. If they have not obtained this number or don't show it on your tax return, take all of your personal information, demand they give you anything they have copied and leave without paying that company. Report them to the Better Business Bureau as well.
  • If you choose to do your own taxes online, be sure to download the latest updates for your Internet Security Program. If you do not have an Internet Security software installed, buy and install one before putting any personal information into a tax form online.Never open or respond to any email that appears to be from the IRS, Turbo Tax or any other online tax software, banking or credit card institution. Any organization that you have provided with personal information, such as your social security number or bank account number, will never send you an email or call you asking you to verify that personal information. Never. Even if someone calls or emails you saying that you are entitled to a bigger refund, that there was an error on your tax form or even that you are in some kind of trouble, do not fulfill their request!Instead, call the company directly with a phone number provided on official documents, not from a voice mail message. Or, if you received a suspicious email, instead, go to the company's website by typing in their web address directly into your browser, not by clicking on an email link. If a call or email makes you feel concerned in any way, do not respond. Call the supposed company in question directly and ask if there are any alerts on your account. Then, report what the caller or email said.
  • You must also be aware of individuals trying to scam you in person. If someone offers to help you with your taxes because they can show you “tricks” on how to get more money or guarantee you that you'll get a big refund, they may ask you to pay a small fee for their help. It would be wise to refuse their offer and go to a trusted tax preparer instead. Scammers may take your fee for their help, but also submit false information to the IRS, which could not only land you in real trouble, but also redirect any refund you might get into the scammer's hands instead of yours.If you mail your tax return, mark your calendar or set a cell phone alert to four weeks beyond the date you mailed it. If you have not received your tax refund by then, check the IRS Where's My Refund website. If the IRS shows that your tax refund has been paid out, but you have not received it, you may be a victim of fraud. Contact the IRS immediately to enlist help.
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, St. Louis Personal Protection Examiner

Jaelyn Jamik grew up in a family of "worry warts." However, she firmly believes that knowledge is power, and now tries to turn anxiety into awareness. Though we can't avoid trials completely, if we are educated about potential dangers, we can better protect ourselves. There are so many...

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