Tag: <span>SCDOR</span>

This item was originally posted on November 23, 2012.  As we enter tax season this has become a popular topic once again and we are re-posting this for your convenience.

It took a couple of weeks for the public to be notified of the theft of South Carolina tax information and a couple more weeks for useful information to begin to trickle out.  With that as the foundation of this issue it is apparent that speed is not going to save the day.  So there really is no need to get into a panic and rush through anything.  For those of us who have had our tax information stolen this will be a race of endurance, perhaps a lifelong struggle to secure our identity.

The SCDOR cyber theft heralds the end of a world where there is even a semblance of privacy.  If it ever did exist, privacy is certainly a thing of the past.  South Carolina is simply the biggest fish to get caught so far.   Even before the SCDOR hacking was announced to the public, a major insurance company contacted authorities regarding the theft of several thousand social security numbers in a similar cyber theft incident.  Folks, we are simply not in Kansas anymore.

Before we provide our list of recommended actions to protect yourself from these crimes, I would like to ask you a few questions.

• Why is it that we have to take specific affirmative action to stop the credit bureaus from giving our private information to whoever is willing to pay them for it?
• Why doesn’t the system require us to take some action to authorize the use of our information?
• And if it is our information and it belongs to us why do they get paid for it?

While you are chewing on that let’s explore the grassy knoll a bit more and list a few things that I think you can do to protect yourself not only from the criminals working outside the system but also from the fine upstanding corporations who trade our identities like so many marbles after school at the neighborhood playground.

1. Yes, by all means, sign up for the ProtectMyID/scdor free year of credit protection, as woefully insufficient as it may be and as complicit as the credit bureaus may be in causing you to need this protection.  Hen house meet fox!
2. Credit protection will not protect your bank account.  Therefore you will need to determine how best to protect any account that was used to receive a state of South Carolina tax refund or pay a South Carolina balance due on any efiled tax return since 1998.  I struggled with the wording of this recommendation but I think the best thing I can say is “contact your financial institution and let them help you determine whether or not you need to close your bank account.”  There is an interesting article here that discusses the bank account issue.  One point raised in the article is that your bank account information is on every check you write so that information is already out there.  To which I would reply A. Who writes checks anymore and B. If we do write a check it is usually not written to Russian cyber criminals (unless you count birthday checks to the grand kids).
3. Monitor your bank accounts daily or at least weekly.  If you are afraid of online banking it is time to educate yourself and overcome that fear.  It simply is not sufficient to wait until the monthly statement comes in the mail 30 to 40 days later.  By then the damage is done.  Sure the bank may replace all of your stolen money a few days or weeks later  but you are still the one that will have to go all over town explaining why your checks bounced if your money is stolen.
4. Review every item on every credit card on every statement every month. And don’t let them talk you into getting online statements instead of paper statements unless you are a college student and your address changes every 9 months.  Online statements can easily get caught up in the rush of all the other junk email that comes into your in box. If you plan to be at your address for the next 20 years request the paper statements.  Besides, the post office needs the work.
5. Purchase a high quality cross cut shredder and shred those bank and credit card statements after you have reviewed them for accuracy.  Do not let your information leave your house by way of the garbage.
6. Promptly open and read every piece of mail that comes to your mailbox even if it looks like junk mail.  Some of that mail may hold clues that something strange is happening with your credit information and allow you to nip it in the bud.
7. Go online and Google yourself (ask your grand kids if you don’t know what that means).  You might be surprised at all of the information about you that is already floating around out there for anybody willing to look for it.  And its all legal.  Available data include your birth date, the price you paid for your house, a picture of your house (both aerial and street view) with a map to your house, a list of your relatives, your arrest records, your occupation, your education and who knows what else.  And this is for anybody with an internet connection.  Just imagine what can be found by people with special tools, training and a bit of larceny in their hearts.  The point is that there is no such thing as privacy.  Govern yourself accordingly.

This list is still evolving and may grow as we find new information so check back often.

If you need assistance with the issues raised in this post please feel free to contact Tax On Wheels, LLC at 803 732-4288.

 

The South Carolina Department of Revenue places the highest priority on safeguarding taxpayer information entrusted to it by all taxpayers.  The electronic filing of tax returns with the Department has always been, and will remain, a safe, secure and efficient means of filing.

In light of the recent computer security breach, it is important to note that no data was lost in the transmission of tax information upon submission to or from the Department.  Confidential information that was stored on the Department’s computer servers was hacked into and then stolen in a criminal act.

Since this incident, measures have been taken to heighten the protection of confidential data so as to avoid future security compromises, and upon recommendations from cyber-security experts, additional security safeguards have been implemented and will continue to be further established in the future.

Taxpayers are safe and secure in filing their state tax returns electronically as it is the most efficient means of filing for taxpayers.  As tax professionals, you are aware that with electronic filing comes many advantages for the taxpayer including receiving a refund in a shorter amount of time as well as less opportunity for errors.

Throughout the individual income tax filing season, information will be provided to the public as it is available.  Our goal is to keep taxpayers informed and aware of any helpful information regarding the filing of tax returns and ensure to the public that filing electronically with the Department is secure.

Current information that may be useful throughout the individual income tax season is available online at www.sctax.org under the “Individual Income” link.

Courtesy Drake Software

A few months have now past since the big hacking incident at the South Carolina Department of Revenue revealed the social security numbers of millions of South Carolina taxpayers. While many of us were intently focused on this issue from day one, many others actually have a life and may have missed a few beats.

South Carolina ETV conducted a recap of sorts during an episode of their weekly program “The Big Picture” hosted by Charles Beirbauer.  This program was broadcast shortly after this incident came to public attention.  So if you feel that you need a bit of a refresher on the details of the hacking incident as we begin tax season, or if you want to gather information on protecting yourself from identity theft, you may want to view the archived broadcast here.

 

Columbia, SC (January 15, 2013) — The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) is joining the South Carolina State Library and the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) to provide taxpayers with informational material on minimizing the possibility of identity theft.

Available to all South Carolina taxpayers, the series of webinars held January 16, 17 and 18 titled The Truth About Identity Protection will address taxpayers’ concerns regarding security breaches, credit reports, and enrolling in credit monitoring services. Staff members from SCDOR, the State Library, and SCDCA will provide webinar attendees with detailed information and will also answer questions and address concerns during this online session.

It is encouraged that libraries, companies, and organizations offer sessions to staff members or the public by showing the webinar in a meeting room or computer lab.  Individuals can also participate from home via the Internet.  To register, visit the South Carolina State Library’s calendar of events or select from the dates below.

January 16, 2013 2:00-3:30pm

January 17, 2013 6:00-7:30pm

January 18, 2013 10:00-11:30am

Please contact Tax On Wheels, LLC at 803 732-4288 if you need assistance with this subject.

Columbia, SC (January 11, 2013) — Investigators with the South Carolina Department of Revenue have arrested 18 individuals this week in an ongoing investigation targeting those who claim to be exempt from taxation with their employers and fail to file required state income tax returns.

Those arrested in the investigation filed W4 forms with their employers claiming to be exempt from taxation which caused little to no taxes to be withheld from their paychecks.  Those same employees failed to file tax returns for multiple years.

This statewide investigation resulted in charges of tax evasion against 18 individuals from the low country, midlands and upstate.  The 18 individuals collectively earned over $6 million during the period of investigation and have a collective state tax liability of nearly $285,000.

The individuals arrested are as follows:

• ·   Meioki Figueroa, Columbia; five (5) counts; $27,898 of tax evaded
• ·   Cedora Vinson, West Columbia; five (5) counts; $21,282 of tax evaded
• ·   Hugh Coleman, Columbia; seven (7) counts; $20,255 of tax evaded
• ·   Lakeesha Murray, Columbia; five (5) counts; $18,891 of tax evaded
• ·   Denise Tyler, Columbia;  four (4) counts; $17,684 of tax evaded
• ·   William Edwards, Columbia; five (5) counts; $16,674 of tax evaded
• ·   Lisa Jenkins, Columbia; seven (7) counts: $14,999 of tax evaded
• ·   Cassandra Johnson, Columbia; eight (8) counts; $13,635 of tax evaded
• ·   Keith Mangle, Piedmont; seven (7) counts; $13,349 of tax evaded
• ·   Juanita Brown, Columbia; five (5) counts; $13,346 of tax evaded
• ·   Alphonso Blassingame, Boiling Springs, six (6) counts; $12,718 of tax evaded
• ·   Thomas Smith, Columbia; five (5) counts; $12,674 of tax evaded
• ·   Victoria Cooper-Hilliard, Goose Creek; six (6) counts; $12,419 of tax evaded
• ·   Devita Gray, Piedmont; five (5) counts; $12,085 of tax evaded
• ·   Rebecca Mulinix, Columbia; seven (7) counts; $11,768 of tax evaded
• ·   Gregory Neff, Summerville; three (3) counts; $11,371 of tax evaded
• ·   Denise Murry, Greer; five (5) counts; $10,452 of tax evaded
• ·   Billy Tolbert, Greenville; seven (7) counts; $10,084 of tax evaded
  

Each charge of tax evasion carries a possible sentence of up to five (5) years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.  These cases will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for prosecution.

Assisting in the arrests include the Richland County Sheriff’s Fugitive Task Force, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Fugitive Task Force, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Department. Further arrests are expected as this investigation is ongoing.

The South Carolina State Library has partnered with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs to provide the public with information on how to minimize the possibility of identity theft. The free webinar, The Truth About Identity Protection, will address the issues of security breaches, credit reports, and enrolling in credit monitoring for South Carolinians.  Staff members from these state agencies will provide detailed information and resources and also be available to answer questions during this online session.

You may visit the South Carolina State Library website for details.

Please contact Tax On Wheels, LLC at 803 732-4288 if you have questions.

The South Carolina Department of Revenue has begun sending out letters notifying taxpayers about the theft of social security numbers and other information.  The letters confirm that only electronic filers are affected.   Taxpayers who have already signed up for the state provided identity theft protection are supposed to be notified by email.

Click here to review the details surrounding this issue and click here to read our recommended action list to help protect yourself from the risk of identity theft.  Or feel free to contact Tax On Wheels, LLC at 803 732-4288 if we may assist you with this issue.

In light of the debacle at the South Carolina Department of Revenue where confidential information for millions of taxpayers, including social security numbers, was stolen, credit monitoring has been a hot topic of discussion.  The state has paid for one year of credit monitoring through Experian for everyone affected.  But what happens when that year runs out.  There has been talk of the state possibly paying for a second year of credit monitoring for everyone but it is expected that everyone will pretty much be on their own when the year (or two) expires.

It turns out that there are free resources available for people who are unable (or refuse) to pay for credit monitoring.  This New York Times article provides details on free online services that may be a cost free alternative to paying for credit monitoring.

We have not reviewed or used these services nor do we recommend this or any other credit monitoring service.  We are simply providing information about available resources which you may find helpful.  As with any, online service, please make sure you check it out carefully and know the details before you sign up.

Please be sure to give Tax On Wheels, LLC a call at 803 732-4288 if you have questions about this or any other tax issue.

South Carolina taxpayers who are affected by the Department of Revenue cyber hacking incident will have an additional two months to sign up for free credit monitoring at www.protectmyid.com/scdor.

WIS Television in Columbia SC is reporting that the deadline for signing up has been extended until March 31, 2013.

–     Call 1-866-578-5422 to enroll in a consumer protection service. (The call center is open 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM EST on Monday through Friday and 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM EST on Saturday and Sunday.)

–      For any South Carolina taxpayer who wishes to bypass the telephone option, there currently is an online service available at http://www.protectmyid.com/scdor. Enter the code SCDOR123 when prompted.

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs in conjunction with the South Carolina State Library is offering a free webinar to provide information on avoiding and detecting identity theft.  The webinar will be conducted on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST.

The webinar is free and open to the public.  Click here to register to attend.