Volz CPA, Inc. Newsletter
August 2018
We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
-- Winston Churchill
COMBAT-INJURED VETERANS TAX FAIRNESS ACT OF 2016
During July 2018, DFAS and the IRS are sending letters to over 130,000 separated military members who had received disability severance pay as taxable income, after January 17, 1991.
  
A small number of potentially affected individuals do not have mailing address information available to the DFAS or IRS. (Please pass this information along to any Veterans you may know who received disability severance pay as taxable income between 1991 and 2016 who may not have received a letter from either the IRS or DFAS.)
   
Those who are eligible, must file an amended return within the next year to receive their refund of between $1,750 and $3,200. If the veteran is deceased a surviving spouse or a representative of the veteran’s estate may file for the refunds.
  
You can get more information about this issue at IRS.gov .
   
We, at Volz CPA, are offering our services at NO CHARGE, to affected Combat-Injured Veterans and their families who need assistance with filing for this refund.
   
God Bless America
CHECK CASHING SCAMS
Various check cashing scams have been around for years. It could start with someone offering to buy something you advertised online, to pay for equipment for a work-at-home job, or as a first installment of a sweepstakes you’ve supposedly won.

Whatever the premise, the person may sound quite believable, and the check presented may look legitimate.
Avoid falling prey to these scams by following these tips:

  • Never give out your personal information to strangers. This includes your bank account number, debit/credit card number, PIN number, and any online banking or mobile banking login information.
  • If you are selling something, it is safer to accept cash, credit card, or PayPal. If you must accept a check, only except a cashier’s check for the exact amount. Remember, it may take a couple of weeks for the check to fully clear, even though the funds are made available to you within a couple of days.
  • If someone offers you money for your personal information, remember it is a scam.
  • If you apply for a work-at-home or secret shopper job and you are instructed to wire money back to them, remember, it is a scam.
  • If you supposedly win a lottery or sweepstakes and you are instructed to wire money back to them, remember it is a scam.
  • If you suspect a check is fraudulent, don’t deposit it. Take it to your bank and talk to a banker about the situation involving how you received the check.
  • Check your online bank statements regularly. If you see something unfamiliar, contact your bank immediately.

There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire a portion of the money back to them. If you believe you have been the victim of a check scammer, contact your local police and notify your bank as soon as possible.
TECHNICAL NOTE:
Clients who use Google Chrome for their browser, may not be able to download some of their tax return files from the Cloud Cabinet. Recent updates to the Chrome Browser have caused this problem and Accountants World is working on an update to the Cloud Cabinet software which will resolve this issue. In the meantime, you can use Firefox or Internet Explorer browsers to download files that cannot be downloaded by Chrome. We will let you know when this has been fixed. We apologize for the inconvenience.
We now accept online credit card payments!

Just go to our website and click on the “Make Payment” Icon on our homepage.
Believe it or not it’s time to wind up the vacationing and send the kids back to school. Hope you had a great summer and let’s pray for the end of oppressive heat. Have a safe Labor Day Weekend.

Peace,
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James A. Volz, CPA
jim@volzcpa.com
794-1551