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IRS warns consumers of tax reduction
schemes
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–For National Consumer Protection Week, the Better Business Bureau
is joining with other national organizations and government agencies to
encourage consumers to “Read Up, Reach Out and Be Informed!”
This is particularly important as the tax filing deadline approaches.
The BBB predicts that scam artists will try to take advantage of
people’s confusion over newly-enacted tax breaks that went into effect
after the 2007 tax filing forms were printed.
Reaching out to the BBB, the IRS and other trustworthy organizations for
credible information will help consumers to recognize tax scams, resist
being defrauded and make educated tax-related decisions.
Following are a few of the tax schemes commonly advocated by
unscrupulous promoters, according to the IRS.
• Zero Wages. Taxpayer is told to attach to their return a Form 4852
(Substitute Form W-2) or a “corrected” Form 1099 showing zero or very
little wages or other income.
The taxpayer indicates he or she is rebutting information submitted to
the IRS by the employer.
· Zero Return. Promoter instructs taxpayer to enter all zeros on their
income tax filing, or to enter zero income, report their withholding and
then write “nunc pro tunc” (Latin for “now for then”) on their return.
The taxpayer is told this will lead the IRS to disregard the original
return on which they reported wages and other income.
• Tax Abatement. This scam rests on a faulty interpretation of the
Internal Revenue Code and involves the tax filer using Form 843 to
request abatement of previously assessed taxes.
• Misuse of Trusts. Taxpayer is encouraged to transfer assets into a
trust to reduce income subject to tax, deductions for personal expenses
and reduced estate or gift taxes.
Be aware that some trusts do not deliver the promised tax benefits; the
IRS is examining these arrangements.
• False Arguments. No one has the right to disobey tax laws! The
following are false arguments used by shady promoters and thrown out of
court.
The 16th Amendment concerning Congressional power to lay and collect
income taxes was never ratified; wages are not income; filing a return
and paying taxes are voluntary acts; and, being required to file Form
1040 violates the 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination or the
4th Amendment right to privacy.
Those who do get involved with an illegal tax scheme may well face
repayment of taxes, plus interest and penalties.
Don’t let yourself be victimized.
Before you do business with a tax adviser, heed the call of National
Consumer Protection Week and “Read Up and Reach out!” Contact the BBB
www.bbb.org to find out if the business is trustworthy.
A legal or financial expert can also assist you in evaluating
tax-related promotions or solicitations. Visit the IRS Web site
www.irs.gov for additional information on tax fraud.
Shelton notes family Civil War
history
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–Ruth Shelton first became involved in genealogy in 1957, when she
traced her McLendon ancestors.
Ruth was born in Eustace and has lived in Dallas and California until
her return to the Cedar Creek Lake area in 1986.
She has one son who lives in Benbrook, two grandsons and three
great-grandsons living in Fort Worth.
In 2001, she received a call from a distant cousin living in
Indianapolis, and learned her grandmother had 13 siblings instead of the
three that she knew about.
Some of her research took her to Quitman, Miss.
The Texas Hospital, located at Archusa Springs just south of Quitman,
Miss., city limits, was built in July, 1862, to give medical aid to
confederate soldiers.
Due to the lack of medical supplies and facilities, the people of the
Galveston-Houston area were alarmed that the Texas soldiers sent here
would suffer greatly. Contributions were given and money was raised by
the people of Texas.
They sent Dr. Louis A. Bryan with wagon loads of medicine from Mexico to
help with the medical shortage.
He selected Quitman to be the place for his hospital. At that time,
Archusa Springs was a beautiful resort center located on the bank of
Archusa Creek.
The transportation and location was good and the springs, with its
healing sulphur content, made it an ideal place.
The Texas Hospital was built by local contractors and served the
Confederacy as well as the general public until it was burned by Union
forces, Feb. 17, 1864, under the command of Brigadier General Walter Q.
Gresham.
It was a sad day for Quitman because of the destruction, looting and
burning.
The railroad trestles, courthouse, depot, businesses, houses and farm
animals, as well as the hospital, were burned.
In his report to General Sherman he stated, “A large and elegant
hospital building recently erected was destroyed.” The hospital had
served its last day.
Earlier, the staff had moved on to Auburn University where the hospital
discontinued its service at the end of the war.
As time went by, the graves of the soldiers who died there were
forgotten for more than 70 years.
It was discovered by a farmer in the 1930s.
Public interest grew and with help from the Quitman Woman’s Club and
federal government, the markers, arch and border around the cemetery
were put in place.
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