Fake Refund Promises vs Real IRS Letters

What Business Owners Must Know Before They Click, Pay Or Panic

Every week another rumor spreads online about surprise stimulus deposits and tariff dividend payments coming to small business owners. The scams look polished and the messages feel urgent. That is exactly why they work.

If a message about free money, surprise refunds, or immediate threats arrives in email or text, stop and breathe, then reach out to Steve Perry, EA before you respond to anything.

Your accounts, your business, and your peace of mind are worth one expert conversation.
Call (678) 717-9818 for calm, clear next steps.

Right now, criminals are exploiting confusion about stimulus style payments and tariff credit rumors to trick taxpayers into revealing sensitive data or paying fake IRS fees. The timing is intentional because real IRS notices are increasing and legitimate compliance letters look scarier than ever. The contrast creates the perfect storm and scammers know it.

A business owner who cannot distinguish a fake stimulus promise from a real IRS notice is vulnerable, and the consequences are not just financial. When a scammer gains access to payroll accounts, merchant systems, or owner level identity data, the entire business can be compromised within minutes.

This is where Steve Perry, EA stands out. He fights the IRS for clients every day, he knows how legitimate IRS communications work, and he knows exactly how to separate real danger from digital theater. That calm confidence is what business owners need when fear hits their inbox.

When someone receives a notice and their hands start shaking, they are not looking for theory. They want someone who knows how the IRS thinks and who can shut down both panic and penalties. That is why business owners call (678) 717-9818 before responding to a single letter or link.

Scammers are pushing two major lies at the moment. The first is that a new wave of stimulus funds is being released only to businesses that confirm identity through a link. The second is that tariff dividends will be deposited automatically once the taxpayer provides routing information. Both are designed to bypass rational thinking and create urgency. Neither is connected to any real IRS communication procedure.

Real IRS notices never demand bank details through email, never ask for payment through gift cards, and never send refund confirmation links through text. Real notices arrive by physical mail, include specific codes, and create a paper trail. Scammers hope you never learn the difference, which is why National Tax Security Awareness Week matters more than ever.

During this period the IRS pushes public reminders about account protection, multi factor authentication, strong password habits, and verification steps that prevent criminals from accessing tax records. The messages are timely because this is also the season when small business owners face year end decisions that affect their tax liability for the entire next year.

A typical business with $250,000 in net profit can see dramatically different tax outcomes depending on entity type, compensation structure, and year end equipment purchases. Without guidance, owners often choose strategies that feel safe but cost them thousands.

Consider a straightforward comparison. A business with $250,000 in profit operating as a sole proprietorship may pay significantly more in self-employment tax and lose opportunities that become available with S corporation compensation planning. If the same business elects S corporation status and pays a reasonable salary with remaining profit distributed as pass through income, the tax impact often decreases. Add a strategic equipment purchase under higher expensing limits and the savings deepen. The before and after difference can reach five figures and sometimes much more. This is not theory. This is planning that affects real households.

That is why tax scams are so dangerous. When scammers insert fear, panic blocks intelligent planning. When fear takes over, owners stop making smart decisions about entity structure, compensation strategy, and year end investments. The cost of a scam is more than the money lost to the criminal. It is the opportunity cost of the planning that never happened.

Business owners do not need to navigate this alone. Schedule a time or call (678) 717-9818 before making any year end choice that affects tax results.

Steve’s clients rely on him because he stays current on IRS procedure changes, new security protocols, and the practical impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on yearend planning. He also sees the patterns that scammers use and teaches clients how to stay out of danger.

To protect yourself during National Tax Security Awareness Week and beyond, use this simple checklist.

·Use strong unique passwords for all financial accounts

·Turn on multi-factor authentication everywhere it is offered

·Never click any link that promises stimulus funds or tariff payments

·Verify every IRS communication by comparing the letter number and notice code

·Log in to IRS online accounts directly, not through links

·Store EIN, PTIN, and payroll credentials offline whenever possible

·Call your tax professional before paying any unexpected balance

·Shred any document that includes identifying information

·Protect your merchant accounts with separate admin credentials

·Freeze business credit files if suspicious activity appears

Following these steps prevents most losses, but the greatest protection comes from having a professional who knows your business and knows the IRS. When a real notice arrives, you want a guide who does not panic. When a scam arrives, you want someone who can say, that is fake, delete it, and move forward.

Your business deserves safety, clarity, and strategy. You deserve someone who sees past the threats and focuses on what actually protects your income. That is exactly what clients experience when they work with Steve Perry, EA. If a notice is real, he handles it. If a message is fake, he stops the fear before it spreads. If you need a plan, he builds it. If you need the IRS off your back, he fights until it happens.

Call (678) 717-9818, email [email protected], or LinkedIn to protect your business before the next scam or notice arrives.