Lawson & Associates Tax and Financial Services

01/14/2026

Prevent Tax Refund Fraud!

🔔Watch for warning signs.🔔

You may be a victim if you get:

✅IRS letter saying “we already received your return”
✅A refund you didn’t request
✅W-2's from jobs you never worked
✅IRS notice about an unknown employer

If this happens:
File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) immediately.

01/14/2026

Prevent Tax Refund Fraud!

Protect your tax documents

Never:

❌Email your W-2
❌Text pictures of tax forms
❌Upload to unknown tax sites

Utilize:

✅Secure portals
✅Encrypted tax software
✅Or in-person tax professionals

01/13/2026

Prevent Tax Refund Fraud!

Use IRS Online Account Monitoring to monitor your IRS account. Create an IRS online account at IRS.gov.

You can:

-See if a return was filed
-See refund status
-Get alerts for suspicious activity

If someone files using your Social Security Number you’ll know immediately.

01/13/2026

Prevent Tax Refund Fraud!

Freeze your credit!! This prevents criminals from opening accounts in your name, which often leads to tax fraud.

Freeze with:

-Equifax

-Experian

-TransUnion

It’s free and takes about 10 minutes total!! Protect yourself!!

01/12/2026

Prevent Tax Refund Fraud!!

File your taxes early! Most refund fraud happens because criminals file before you do.

If you file first:

-The IRS locks your Social Security Number for that year.

-Fake returns get rejected automatically.

-Early filing is a powerful shield.

01/12/2026

Prevent Tax Refund Fraud!

Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN). This is the #1 defense against refund fraud.

An IP PIN is a 6-digit number the IRS gives only to you.
No one can file a tax return in your name without it.

Even if criminals have:

Your Social Security Number!
Your address!
Your W-2!

THEY CANNOT FILE WITHOUT THIS PIN!

How to get it:

Go to IRS.gov
Search “Get an IP PIN”
Create or log in to your IRS account

Turn it on (it stays active every year)

01/11/2026

Faster Refunds:
The IRS expects most refunds to be issued within 21 days for those who file electronically and choose direct deposit. The IRS is phasing out paper refund checks, so direct deposit is strongly encouraged.

01/11/2026

PLEASE DO NOT USE YOUR PAY STUB TO FILE YOUR TAXES!!
TAX TIP — PROTECT YOURSELF! 🚨
It is a violation for a tax professional to file your return using a pay stub instead of your W-2.
Your W-2 is the ONLY official wage document the IRS allows for e-filing because it includes your FINAL wages, withholding, employer EIN, benefits & retirement details. A pay stub doesn’t and numbers change all year.
Filing from a pay stub can lead to:
❌ IRS refund delays
❌ Letters & audits
❌ Amended returns
❌ Paying money back
❌ Penalties for the tax professional
If your W-2 isn’t available after January 31st contact your employer to confirm when the form is coming. If you don't get your W-2 by the end of February contact the IRS @ 1-800-829-1040. Also, If you don't have your W-2 the legal option is Form 4852 (Substitute W-2) but ONLY after trying to obtain the real W-2.
A real professional will NEVER risk your refund or their license to file from a paycheck stub.
Stay updated! Stay in compliance!

01/11/2026

Key Dates for the 2026 Tax Season:

January 9, 2026: IRS Free File program software becomes available to qualified taxpayers to begin preparing returns (though processing starts Jan. 26).

January 26, 2026: The official start of the 2026 tax season, when the IRS begins accepting and processing all individual returns.

April 15, 2026: The deadline to file your 2025 federal income tax return and pay any taxes owed.

October 15, 2026: The extended deadline to file your return if you request an automatic six-month extension by April 15.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year to you all!!

Happy New Year!!

02/03/2025

It's OK to fail because you will have a chance to try again, and succeed.

01/01/2025

Happy New Year!!