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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued a new warning about scams through social media. The IRS has received thousands of requests for inflated tax refunds. Many of these taxpayers relied on improper or inaccurate social media claims.

There are several specific scams that are promoted on social media. These include the Fuel Tax Credit, the Sick and Family Leave Credit, false household employment taxes and overstated withholding. The improper claims often lead to delayed refunds because the IRS must hold up the return and investigate to understand if the deduction or credit is proper.

Social media is ubiquitous in American society. However, social media posts may come from individuals from foreign nations who do not understand U.S. tax rules. The IRS urges taxpayers to be cautious about social media advice. There is a social media trend toward excessive promises and claims about various types of tax credits and deductions. The challenge for individuals is that many social media comments encourage you to follow the improper tax advice. You may think, “Surely all of these supposedly expert individuals cannot be wrong.”

The IRS has specific recommendations to protect individuals from these social media fraudsters and scammers.

  1. Suspicious Refund Claims — If the IRS receives tax returns with frequently false credits or deduction claims, it will hold up the tax refunds and attempt to verify the claim. This is particularly true for the Fuel Tax Credit, the Sick and Family Leave Credit for Self-Employed Individuals and overstated withholding.
  2. You Receive an IRS Letter — If you receive Letter 5747c, Potential Identity Theft during Original Processing – TAC, you should follow the directions on the letter. It will generally not be helpful to visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (TAC) or contact the IRS over the phone. Each letter has specific instructions you should follow.
  3. Filing a Frivolous Return — There are potential serious consequences if the IRS believes that your tax return is frivolous. If your return is not valid, you should file a complete and accurate return within 30 days. If you do not file an amended return, you could be subject to penalties of $5,000 for the improper return or asked to submit to a compliance audit with the IRS. If the abuse is serious, the IRS may initiate a criminal prosecution.
  4. Fuel Tax Credit Qualification — The fuel credit is meant only for off-highway vehicles used in businesses, farms, ranches, aviation or commercial fishing. It is not available to most taxpayers.
  5. Sick and Family Leave Credit — The Sick and Family Leave Credit was enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was available for individuals with a trade or business and was designed to assist self-employed individuals during the pandemic. This credit was only available during 2020 and 2021. It may not be claimed on a 2022 or 2023 tax return.
  6. Overstated Withholding — Another scam that is promoted in social media invites taxpayers to create fictional employees. The taxpayer then manually fills out a Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and claims there was a large withholding amount. The taxpayer hopes to receive a large refund for this fraudulent withholding. The IRS verifies withholding claimed on tax returns and is likely to audit the taxpayer.

Editor's Note: During the pandemic, many credits and deductions were passed for valid reasons. However, social media scammers tend to promise far more than is authorized. Taxpayers should be on guard and use a reputable tax preparer to ensure their returns are correctly completed.

 

Published July 12, 2024

My parent loves to cook but has had several kitchen-related accidents over the past year. Could you provide some tips for making a kitchen safer and more practical without having to undergo an expensive remodel?

There are several small improvements and simple modifications that can make a big difference in making an older adult’s kitchen safer and easier to use. Depending on each person’s specific needs, here are some kitchen tips to consider.

Lights: If the lighting in the kitchen needs improvement, replace an overhead fixture with a new ceiling light. In addition, add LED lighting under kitchen cabinets to brighten up the countertops.

Floors: If the kitchen has throw rugs, replace them with non-skid floor mats to reduce potential tripping or slipping hazards. Also, consider purchasing gel mats which have cushioning and offer greater comfort when standing for extended periods of time.

Cabinets and drawers: To reduce bending or reaching, organize the kitchen cabinets and drawers so that the items that are most frequently used are within a comfortable reach. You can also make the lower cabinets and pantry easier to access by installing pullout shelves or rotating trays. It is also helpful to install pull-down shelves in the upper cabinets so that your parent does not have to get on a stool to reach things on high shelves. It is also recommended to replace cabinet and drawer knobs with “D” or “C” shaped pull-handles because they are more comfortable to grasp.

Faucet: If the kitchen has a twist-handle kitchen faucet, replace it with an ADA- compliant single handle faucet or with a touch, motion or digital smart faucet. These alternative faucets are easier to operate, especially for those with arthritis or gripping problems. For safety purposes, set the hot water tank at 120 degrees to prevent possible burns.

Microwave and cooktop safety: If the microwave is mounted above the stove, consider moving it to the countertop so your parent does not have to reach over a cooktop to insert or remove food. To prevent home cooking fires, there are automatic stovetop devices that will turn off electric and gas stovetops when left unattended. To guard against microwave fires, there are devices that will automatically shut off the power to the microwave when smoke is detected.

Shopping for Appliances

If you are looking to upgrade appliances, there are a variety of different features to keep in mind.

Refrigerator: French-door refrigerators that open in the middle are great for seniors because it makes it easier to see and reach inside. Pullout adjustable height shelves and a water/ice dispenser on the outside of the door are also very convenient.

Stove or cooktop: Look for a stovetop with controls in the front that are easy to see and reach. Flat surfaced electric induction burners or continuous grates on gas stoves are also great for sliding heavy pots and pans from one burner to the next. Some cooktops also come with automatic shut off burners which will turn off when it detects excessively high temperatures.

Oven: When purchasing an oven, consider a side-swing door model. These models are easier to reach into without having to lean over a hot, swing-down door. Also consider a wall-mounted oven to eliminate bending. Self-cleaning ovens are helpful to eliminate bending over and twisting to clean.

Dishwasher: Consider a drawer-style dishwasher that slides in and out for easier access and, if possible, have it installed on a raised platform 12 to 24 inches above floor level so it can be loaded and unloaded without bending over.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Living" book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

The Washington County Community Foundation is now offering scholarships to non-traditional students through its Education Matters initiative.  Applications can be accessed through the Foundation’s website at wccf.biz or by clicking through to this page: https://www.wccfapplyonline.biz/index.php/scholarship-application/45-education-matters-scholarship.  The deadline for applications is September 15, 2024 by 3:30 PM.

The following criteria have been established for scholarships:  

  1. Annual awards will not exceed $3,000 the first twelve months and $5,000 per person in any subsequent twelve month period.
  2. Scholarship applicants must be a minimum of 28 years old as of the date of application.
  3. Only individuals who can demonstrate continuing legal residence in Washington County for at least the past five years are eligible. Documentation such as tax forms, housing receipts, or utility bills will be used to verify residency and/or household income.
  4. Scholarship awards may be used for tuition, course-related fees, or books only. Checks will only be written to an educational institution or certified training provider.
  5. The application deadline is September 15, 2024. No exceptions.
  6. Adult scholarship awards may not be used to pay for college debt.
  7. Subsequent awards will only be considered for students maintaining at least a 2.5 GPA.

Call the Washington County Community Foundation office at 883-7334 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request an application or for more information.

Since 1993, donors to the Washington County Community Foundation serve as a symbol of hope, creating a legacy of care and compassion that shines for generations to come.

WCCF has opened their Fall Grant Cycle.  Because of the on-going generosity and support of the donors to the Washington County Community Foundation, the Foundation is able to allocate $55,000 for this Fall Grant Cycle. 

Grant applications for the fall grant cycle are available online or by calling the WCCF office.  The application deadline will be 3:30pm, September 15, 2024.

 For more information or to request an application, you may visit our website at wccf.biz or go to this link: : https://wccfapplyonline.biz/index.php/view-grant-application/40-semi-annual-cycle.  If you have any difficulties accessing or completing the application call Judy Johnson or Lindsey Wade-Swift at the Foundation office.  The number is (812) 883-7334. 

Since 1993, donors to the Washington County Community Foundation serve as a symbol of hope, creating a legacy of care and compassion that shines for generations to come.

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