Tax D-Day - A couple of Pitfalls to Avoid

By the time today is over, most people will be happy to put all the paperwork away and not worry about tax returns again for another year. But things aren’t always that easy. There are a couple of other things that could ruin that collective sign of relief.

The government is warning that all Americans must abide by the tax laws or face prosecution. In a press release, U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates reiterated this point while releasing information on some recent prosecutions, one case a Loganville man. Thony Beaubrun, 48, who prepared taxes out of a Lilburn office, was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of home confinement and a year of supervised release for assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. Information on such prosecutions usually comes out at tax time, but officials warn that these prosecutions go on year round.

“Nobody enjoys paying taxes, but everyone has to pay their fair share,” Yates said in the release. “As Tax Day, April 17, approaches, we urge the residents of our community to comply with their tax obligations or be prepared to face the consequences.”

And if you’ve done everything right, and you’re one of the lucky ones getting a tax refund, you might want to opt to have the money transferred directly into an account electronically. During a recent traffic stop on I-85, Gwinnett County authorities recovered 33 stolen refund checks. The two defendants, Jimmy Rush of Decatur and Porchia Rumph of Conyers, are currently incarcerated in Gwinnett County Detention Center. According to WSBTV Channel 2, they face a combined 60 counts of second-degree forgery for having $42,000 in Treasury checks and $8,000 in cash on them when stopped. There is now an investigation by the Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspector.

WSBTV also reports that Loganville resident Kristin Marshall fears she was a victim of this fraud. When checking on the status of her refund, Marshall was reportedly told it had been mailed out in March and already cashed. She is now out almost $3,000 and struggling to prove to the IRS that her signature was forged and she was not the recipient of the money.

So as you complete those final steps to get your taxes taken care of, make sure you have a reputable tax preparer helping you or, if you're doing your taxes yourself, that you report your earnings accurately. In addition, if you're expecting a refund check, either opt to have it remitted electronically or keep a close eye on the mailbox.