Tax Tea with Melinda Tolbert

Fake W-2s, expired COVID credits, and fraudulent household employee forms are all over social media. Here’s why the IRS is already watching. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert kicks off her IRS Dirty Dozen series by breaking down the tax scams spreading across Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram. She covers fake W-2s built on false withholdings, Form 7202 claims from people who...

Every year, the IRS names the 12 tax scams putting taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals at the most risk. Here's what made the 2024 list. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert walks through all 12 scams on the 2024 IRS Dirty Dozen list. They include bogus tax strategies, illegal schemes aimed at high-income filers, bad tax advice on social media, ghost tax preparers, offer in co...

Some tax mistakes cost you a little money. Others get you audited, and a few can land you in federal prison. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down the tax mistakes most likely to get you audited by the IRS, including improper child tax credit claims, unreported gig and side income, improper home office deductions, incorrectly claiming the earned income tax credit, and failin...

PPP fraud investigations are still moving, and the paper trail is doing the talking. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down the biggest PPP fraud mistakes that can send business owners to prison, including fake Schedule C filings, fake employees, inflated payroll, multiple PPP loans, and spending PPP funds on luxury items. She explains why investigators compare PPP applicatio...

The Tax Magician case is a reminder that fake deductions can create real federal consequences. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert launches her Indictment of the Week series with the federal tax preparer fraud case involving Rafael Alvarez, also known as the Tax Magician, and A-Tax New York. She breaks down the alleged decade long scheme, the $145 million tax loss, the use of bogus de...

A final notice of intent to levy is not a letter to ignore. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda explains what LT16 letters and final notice of intent to levy warnings can mean, how tax liens can lead to tax levies, and what taxpayers should know before calling the IRS to see what the government knows. She also discusses ERC-related notices, why receiving ERC funds without qualifying can becom...

PPP and EIDL enforcement may be entering a new AI-driven phase. Melinda Tolbert is breaking down what the SBA’s expanded use of Palantir technology could mean for business owners, borrowers, and tax professionals now. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda explains how Palantir may help the SBA analyze large datasets, flag patterns, identify possible coordinated schemes, generate investigative l...

ERC fraud cases are not built on guesses. They are built on evidence. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down the evidence behind an alleged $600 million COVID tax credit scheme involving ERC claims, false Form 941 filings, financial records, phone extractions, IRS call center records, fake W-2 submissions, surveillance, and social media posts. She explains how federal investi...

Tax debt is serious, but tax evasion is a completely different conversation.   In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down a federal tax case involving an Atlanta attorney who was convicted of evading nearly $1.5 million in federal income taxes over multiple years and sentenced to federal prison.   She explains the difference between owing taxes and tax evasion, why the IRS looks...

A fake gold mine, 493 alleged employees, and a $13 million paper trail.  Melinda Tolbert is breaking down what this case teaches business owners and tax professionals now.   In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda breaks down a federal case involving alleged fake tax losses, a $3.3 million Treasury check, a nearly $10 million PPP loan application, fake payroll reports, luxury spending, and the re...

The SBA is going state by state after suspected PPP fraud, and Melinda Tolbert is explaining why business owners should not treat this as someone else's problem. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda breaks down the SBA's state by state enforcement effort, the Ohio borrower suspensions, and why similar actions in California, Minnesota, Maine, and Ohio point to a broader strategy around pandemic...

Fraud enforcement is getting more coordinated, and Melinda Tolbert is breaking down why business owners and tax professionals need to pay attention. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda explains the Department of Justice announcement of the National Fraud Enforcement Division and why it matters for fraud involving taxpayer funded money. She breaks down what this shift could mean for small busi...

PPP and EIDL enforcement is not over, and Melinda Tolbert is breaking down what borrowers need to understand now. In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda explains the renewed PPP and EIDL crackdown, including the 562,000 loans referred to Treasury collections, the $22.2 billion tied to suspected fraud, and why some cases may move beyond repayment into fraud review or prosecution. She also breaks...

Have you received IRS Notice LT11 or 1058? Please don't ignore it. If you've received an LT11 notice or letter 1058 from the IRS, it means you have an outstanding tax balance. If you don't respond by the deadline, the IRS intends to seize your property. It is recommended to get representation immediately. If you can't afford representation, pay your balance in full or what you can to reduce future...

Number four on the list of the IRS’ Dirty Dozen list is the Fuel Tax Credit scam.   This credit is intended only for off-highway businesses and farming use. Fraudulent tax preparers exploit this credit, promising large refunds and charging high fees. That's why it is crucial to verify the credibility of anyone offering such services to avoid falling victim to these scams.   The Internal Service Re...

Since 2002, the IRS has published its annual "Dirty Dozen" list, highlighting the most alarming schemes and scams threatening taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals.   This year, the list highlights scams like fake W-2 forms, misuse of Form 7202, and fraudulent Schedule H forms. Scammers create fake W-2s to claim large refunds, misuse Form 7202 for sick leave credits, and submit false Schedu...

Since 2002, the IRS has released an annual "Dirty Dozen" list of schemes and scams that pose risks to taxpayers, businesses, and the tax professional community.   This year, the list highlights various schemes used by fraudsters, including bogus tax strategies and fraudulent offshore schemes, which often target high-income earners with promises of large tax savings. It is crucial to verify the cre...

What happens when you fail to pay your taxes?   Failing to pay your taxes can result in severe consequences, such as having your passport revoked or denied. Since 2018, the IRS can flag individuals with seriously delinquent tax bills, enabling the State Department to take action.   Certain situations, like bankruptcy, tax-related identity theft, and serving in designated combat zones, won't trigge...

Stop! This Will Get You Audited Host: Melinda Tolbert   What is tax fraud?   Deliberately deceiving the IRS on your tax returns is a serious offense. From withholding income to improper deductions, these mistakes can land you in hot water. Penalties, fines, and even prison time could be on the line.   Don’t miss out on this episode where we discuss the common pitfalls to avoid committing tax fraud...