By Congressman Joe Wilson
Today, scams are running rampant, and I want to make sure you have the necessary information to remain vigilant. Scammers use a variety of methods to steal information from you. Some of the most common tricks today are criminals impersonating people from different government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Social Security Administration, or Medicare. At times, they also impersonate businesses that you know.
Only give out your information when you are the one initiating contact with an organization you trust, or you are sure of the person’s identity who is contacting you. Please be aware that honest organizations will not contact you through calls, email, text, or social media to ask for private information like your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card details. In addition, if you receive a call that threatens a consequence if you do not make a payment immediately, this is a scam. Legitimate businesses and organizations will give you time to respond.
As we enter the tax season, the following are important, upcoming dates to be aware.
April 18: Deadline to submit 2022 tax returns, or an extension to file and pay tax owed, for most taxpayers. The date has been revised this season because of the weekend and the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, D.C., even for those who live outside the area.
October 16: Date to file for those requesting an extension on their 2022 tax returns.
I will continue to work hard every day to keep Americans safe, promote good-paying jobs, and help make our lives and communities stronger.
