First State CPAs and Associates

18 hours ago

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗜 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹?

Most viral tax "hacks" are built on a tiny bit of truth stretched into a massive headache. If a video promises a "secret" IRS refund, it's usually a trap.

We are seeing three specific claims cause a lot of trouble right now:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
This is for heavy farm machinery or off-road equipment. If you use it for a standard work truck or van, the IRS computers will flag it almost immediately.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 "𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁"
This name doesn't actually exist in tax law. It’s a label used to trick people into claiming old pandemic-era credits they aren't eligible for.

𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲.
Some videos tell you to list "estimated" wages or employers you didn't work for to get a bigger check. This is fraud, and the IRS treats it as a crime, not a mistake.

The IRS is now using specialized software to track these social media trends. When they catch a bad claim, they don't just ask for the money back. They add expensive penalties and often freeze your entire account for months while they investigate you for identity theft.

Tax law is complicated, but it isn’t a treasure hunt. We suggest staying away from any "loophole" that only seems to exist in a 30-second influencer video. ... See MoreSee Less

First State CPAs and Associates

4 days ago

𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙤 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙖 𝙩𝙖𝙭 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙢?
The IRS does not initiate first contact by phone, text, email, or social media. If you receive a message out of the blue, look for these specific red flags:

1. The notice number on the document.
A legitimate IRS notice will always have a specific number (like CP14 or LTR 5071C) in the top right corner.

2. The payment method indicated.
Scammers demand gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers. The IRS uses standard tax payment channels.

3. Any social media claim.
The IRS reported over 600 impersonators in 2025 using fake website names and IRS-style language to steal Social Security numbers.

A little caution goes a long way. If you're unsure about it, don't click the link.

Instead, go directly to IRS.gov and log in to your official IRS Online Account to verify your status.

Or reach out to us and we can help you verify. ... See MoreSee Less

First State CPAs and Associates

5 days ago

We've got lots of great strategies we're excited to share with you over the coming months, but we also value what you have real questions about that we can answer. ... See MoreSee Less