​IRS $1,400 Stimulus Payment Scam Alert: What You Need to Know to Avoid Becoming a Victim 

AUSTIN CALDWELLActualizado
05/02/2025
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09:53
CSTInflation and the rising cost of living are severely affecting the finances of many Americans. However, special payments of up to $1,400, issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), will provide relief to approximately one million taxpayers, who will benefit from a refundable credit.The IRS distributed payments to taxpayers who did not claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns, which is a refundable credit for individuals who did not receive one or more Economic Impact Payments (EIP), also known as stimulus checks.3 secret ways to get a bigger tax refund and make sure you pay only what you owePayments are automatic and eligible beneficiaries do not need to do anything to claim them, however, on the Newsweek website they warned of a scam to take advantage of this refund, as they report that there are scammers posing as IRS staff and send text messages asking taxpayers for personal data, with the promise of making the Economic Impact Payment of $1,400.”You are eligible to receive an economic impact payment of $1,400. Please provide your accurate personal information. We will deposit the amount into your bank account or send you a paper check within 1 to 2 business days,” reads a text message broadcast by North Carolina television channel WSOC-TV.Scammers use phishing text messages, which is an online scam that appears to come from an official source, and this type of fraud could be on the rise during the tax season that began on January 27 and will end on April 15.The IRS automatically issued payments to eligible taxpayers who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax return. This credit corresponds to the Covid-19 stimulus payments.The Economic Impact Payment (EIP), distributed in three rounds by the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, revealed that many eligible taxpayers filed their tax returns but did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit.According to the IRS, eligible taxpayers would not have to take any action to receive the refund, as they have been identified in the system. Some have already received the payment by direct deposit into the bank account registered on their 2023 tax return.”To make the process easier and ensure this money gets to those who need it, we are making these automatic payments, which means taxpayers will not have to file an amended return to receive it,” Danny Werfel, IRS commissioner, explained in a December statement.