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Inspired St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Our favorite way to celebrate any holiday has always been through food! So what better way to celebrate the luck of the Irish with the PLJ community than by sharing these delicious eye-popping green (and some even shamrock-shaped) recipes.

I promise, they’re magically delicious :)

Recipes

Shamrock Chips

Ingredients:

  • Cooking Spray
  • Salt for taste
  • Spinach tortilla wraps

With shamrock cookie cutter, cut out as many shamrocks as possible from tortillas.

*Sometimes the cookie cutter will not cut all the way through the tortilla. To get a better cut, push the cookie cutter down firmly and move the entire tortilla back and forth while pressing. For those stubborn edges that will not cut, use cooking scissors.

*Save scraps to sprinkle on soups and salads.

Place on baking sheet. Spray shamrocks with cooking oil.

Sprinkle with salt. Bake at 375 degrees for about 7 – 10 minutes. Check often, they burn quickly.

Serve with your favorite dip.

Goat Cheese Balls

These were made for St Patrick’s Day with goat cheese, spices and a mix of
fresh and dry herbs.

Ingredients:

  • Soft goat cheese
  • Miched shallots
  • Olive oil
  • Salt & Pepper Spices (example: piment d’espelette, paprika, etc.)
  • Fresh and dry herbs

Place the soft goat’s cheese in a bowl and mash with a splash extra-virgin
olive oil.

Add salt, pepper, piment d’espelette and the minced shallots.

Take small spoonfuls and roll into bite-sized balls.

Chill, covered on a baking sheet until ready to use.

Roll in the mix of dry and fresh herbs (garlic, chives, dried tomatoes…)

Also, you may vary the recipe with other coverings: crushed pink
peppercorns, white and black toasted sesame seeds, cayenne pepper,
minced golden raisins or dried papaya… up to your taste and imagination!

Keep in the fridge until ready to serve, with cocktail sticks.

Kale Hummus Cucumber Bites

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups chopped kale leaves
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 cans (15 ounces each) garbanzo beans, drained
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Juice of two limes
  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • A little water as needed
  • A little honey (if needed to adjust any bitterness)
  • English cucumber rounds (about 1/3 inch thick)
  • Parsley for garnish

Saute kale in coconut oil in a large skillet, stirring constantly to remove moisture, until kale is soft.

Place cooked kale and all other ingredients in a food processor and process until very smooth, adding a little water as needed to make a smooth consistency. Add a few drops of honey as needed if your hummus is too bitter for your taste – I love the bitterness added by the kale, but temper it with honey if you like.

Spoon a little of the hummus on top of cucumber slices to serve – and garnish with a parsley leaf or two for extra festiveness!

Guacamole Cups

These baked wonton cups are an easy, crunchy, and healthy way to serve guacamole!

Prep: 5mins
Cook: 10mins
Total: 15mins

Ingredients:

  • wonton wraps
  • guacamole — homemade or store-bought

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Then press your desired number of wonton wrappers (you can do this in
multiple batches) into a mini baking cup pan to form the “cups”. (Be sure that the corners do not fold in after the pan sits for a minute!) Bake the cups for 10-15 minutes, or until the wrappers are golden brown. Remove and let cool for at least 5 minutes.

Use a spoon to scoop in the guacamole into each cup. Serve immediately.

Edamame Basil Hummus

These baked wonton cups are an easy, crunchy, and healthy way to serve guacamole!

Prep: 10mins

A quick and easy hummus that is healthy and full of flavor! Great for every day snacking or parties!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups shelled, cooked edamame
  • 2/3 cups garbanzo beans (chickpeas) drained and rinsed
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Chips, crackers, or veggies-for serving

1. Reserve one tablespoon each of the edamame & garbanzo beans for garnish. In a food processor, blend the remaining edamame & the remaining garbanzo beans with garlic, basil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube while the processor is on. Process until smooth & well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.

2. Pour into a serving bowl & garnish with edamame, garbanzo beans, olive oil and basil. Serve with chips, crackers or veggies.

Note-this is also great as a sandwich spread.For a time save, buy edamame that is already shelled.

Chocolate Mint Brownie Milkshake

This chocolate mint brownie milkshake is the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any day!

Prep: 10mins

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 scoops chocolate mint chip ice cream
  • 1 brownie
  • whipped cream
  • Green food coloring, optional/li>
  • Sprinkles and extra brownie pieces for decorating, optional

1. In blender combine the milk, ice cream, and brownie. Blend until smooth. Pour into glass and garnish with whipped cream. You can dye the whipped cream with green food coloring if you wish. Garnish with sprinkles and brownie chunks, if desired. Serve immediately.

Note-if you like a thinner shake, you can add more milk.

Chocolate Mint Icebox Cupcakes

This chocolate mint brownie milkshake is the perfect treat for St. Patrick’s Day or any day!

Prep: 15mins

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • Green food coloring
  • 1 (5.25 ounce) box Anna’s Chocolate Mint Thins Chopped Andes Mints, for decorating
  • Sprinkles, for decorating

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whip the cream, powdered sugar, and peppermint extract together on high speed until medium peaks form. Fold in the green food coloring. Start with a few drops and add more if you want the color to be more green.

2. To assemble the cupcakes, spread about 1 tablespoon of the whipped cream on top of a chocolate mint thin. Place another chocolate mint thin on top of the cream to make a sandwich. Spread more whipped cream over the thin and add another thin. Top the final chocolate mint thin with whipped cream. You want to use four wafers per cupcake and end with cream.

3. Place cupcakes in cupcake liners or on a plate and stick in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. You can refrigerate them overnight. The whipped cream will soften the thins making them soft like cake.

4. When ready to serve, remove the cupcakes from the refrigerator and sprinkle with chopped Andes mints and sprinkles, if desired.

Avocado Feta Dip

Easy and creamy avocado feta dip! Serve with cut up veggies, pita chips, chips, bread, or crackers.

Prep: 5mins

Ingredients:

  • 2 avocados, peeled and pit removed
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup diced onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced jalapeño
  • 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Pita chips, veggies, bread, crackers, etc. for serving

1. Place the avocados, feta, onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice in the bowl of a food processor or in a blender. Blend until creamy and smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

2. Scrape dip into a bowl and serve with pita chips, cut up veggies, bread, or crackers.

Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich

This Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich is a great quick and easy lunch option that is good for you too! The salad also makes a great dip!

Prep: 10mins

Ingredients:

  • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas or garbanzo beans
  • 1 large ripe avocado
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Bread of your choice
  • Fresh spinach leaves or other sandwich toppings: lettuce, tomato slices, sprouts, etc.

1. Rinse and drain the chickpeas. Place on a paper towel and remove the outer skins. You can leave them on, but I like to remove them.

2. In a medium bowl, using a fork or potato masher smash the chickpeas and avocado together. Add in cilantro, green onion, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

3. Spread salad on bread and top with your favorite sandwich toppings. I like to add fresh spinach leaves.

Note: This salad also makes a great dip. Serve with cut up veggies, crackers, or pita chips. Also, this salad is best eaten the day it is made because it will turn brown due to the avocado.

Crispy Gnocchi with Basil Pesto

Crispy, pan-fried gnocchi with basil pesto-an easy meal that tastes good any night of the week!

Prep Time: 10mins
Cook Time: 15mins

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 (1 lb.)package potato gnocchi (we used DeLallo)
  • Parmesan cheese, for serving

1. Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor or blender and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil and process until smooth. Add the cheese and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

2. Cook the gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain completely. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden and crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Turn the gnocchi and cook, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the pesto. You might have leftover pesto. Serve warm and garnish with Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Chocolate Mint Oreo Cookies

Chocolate cookies with chocolate chips, mint green chips, and chopped up Cool Mint Oreos. These cookies are rich and decadent with a refreshing mint twist.

Prep Time: 15mins
Cook Time: 10mins

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 cups mint green chips
  • 1 cup chopped Cool Mint Oreo cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa. Set aside.

3. With a mixer, cream butter and sugars together until smooth. Add in eggs, one at a time. Next, add in vanilla extract. Mix until blended.

4. Slowly add flour mixture to sugar mixture and mix until flour disappears. Stir in chocolate chips, mint green chips, and chopped Cool Mint Oreos. Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart.

5. Bake cookies for 10 minutes, or until the cookies are set around the edges, but still soft in the center. Don’t over bake. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for 3-5 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip

This healthy Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip is simple to make and is great for parties or snack time. Serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, or cut up vegetables.

Prep Time: 10mins

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • Pita chips, tortilla chips, cut up veggies-for serving

1. Place the yogurt, avocados, garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, lime juice, and cumin in a blender or food processor. Mix until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

2. Scrape dip into a serving bowl and serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, or cut up veggies.

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When Your Child Asks for a Loan, Should You Say Yes?

You raised them, helped get them through school, and now your children are on their own. Or are they? Even adult children sometimes need financial help. But if your child asks you for a loan, don’t pull out your checkbook until you’ve examined the financial and emotional costs. Start the process by considering a few key questions.

money pie slices handed out

Why does your child need the money?

Lenders ask applicants to clearly state the purpose for the loan, and you should, too. Like any lender, you need to decide whether the loan purpose is reasonable. If your child is a chronic borrower, frequently overspends, or wants to use the money you’re lending to pay past-due bills, watch out. You might be enabling poor financial decision making. On the other hand, if your child is usually responsible and needs the money for a purpose you support, you may feel better about agreeing to the loan.

Statistic - Support goes to grown children more often than aging parents 2012 results

Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/

Will your financial assistance help your child in the long run?

It’s natural to want to help your child, but you also want to avoid jeopardizing your child’s independence. If you step in to help, will your child lean on you the next time, too? And no matter how well-intentioned you are, the flip side of protecting your child from financial struggles is that your child may never get to experience the satisfaction that comes with successfully navigating financial challenges.

Statistic - More middle-aged adults now supporting grown children - 2012 results

Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/

Can you really afford it?

Perhaps you can afford to lend money right now, but look ahead a bit. What will happen if you find yourself in unexpected financial circumstances before the loan is repaid? If you’re loaning a significant sum and you’re close to retirement, will you have the opportunity to make up the amount? If you decide to loan your child money, be sure it’s an amount that you could afford to lose, and don’t take money from your retirement account.

Statistic - Middle-aged adults sandwiched between aging parents and kids

Source: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/

What if something goes wrong?

One potential downside to loaning your child money is the family tension it may cause. When a financial institution loans money to someone, it’s all business, and the repayment terms are clear-cut. When you loan money to a relative, it’s personal, and if expectations aren’t met, both your finances and your relationship with your child may be at risk.

For example, how will you feel if your child treats the debt casually? Even the most responsible child may occasionally forget to make a payment. Will you scrutinize your child’s financial decisions and feel obligated to give advice? Will you be okay with forgiving the loan if your child is unable to pay it back? And how will other family members react? For example, what if your spouse disagrees with your decision? Will other children feel as though you’re playing favorites?

three generations of women

If you decide to say yes

Think like a lender
Take your responsibility, and the borrower’s, seriously. Putting loan terms in writing sounds too businesslike to some parents, but doing so can help set expectations. You can draft a loan contract that spells out the loan amount, the interest rate, and a repayment schedule. To avoid playing the role of parent-turned-debt collector, consider asking your child to set up automatic monthly transfers from his or her financial account to yours.

Pay attention to some rules
Having loan documentation may also be necessary to meet IRS requirements. If you’re lending your child a significant amount, prepare a promissory note that details the loan amount, repayment schedule, collateral, and loan terms, and includes an interest rate that is at least equal to the applicable federal rate set by the IRS. Doing so may help ensure that the IRS doesn’t deem the loan a gift and potentially subject you to gift and estate tax consequences. You or your child may need to meet certain requirements, too, if the loan proceeds will be used for a home down payment or a mortgage. The rules and consequences can be complex, so ask a legal or tax professional for information on your individual circumstances.

If you decide to say no

Consider offering other types of help
Your support matters to your child, even if it doesn’t come in the form of a loan. For example, you might consider making a smaller, no-strings-attached gift to your child that doesn’t have to be repaid, or offer to pay a bill or two for a short period of time.

Don’t feel guilty
If you have serious reservations about making the loan, don’t. Remember, your financial stability is just as important as your child’s, and a healthy relationship is something that money can’t buy.

Important Disclosure

American Consumer Credit Counseling polled a question at ConsumerCredit.com. In September 2013 they asked:
“Would You Loan Money to Family or Friends in Need?”

They found that the majority of people would, but there were various reasons and various amounts that respondent’s were willing to lend. Check out some interesting stats in the infographic…

Infographic - Would you load money to a family member or friend in need?

Source: http://talkingcents.consumercredit.com/2013/11/14/poll-results-infographic-loaning-money-to-family-and-friends/

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No Matter What Your Age, Your Social Security Statement Matters

Fifteen years ago, the Social Security Administration (SSA) launched the Social Security Statement, a tool to help Americans understand the features and benefits that Social Security offers. Since then, millions of Americans have reviewed their personalized statements to see a detailed record of their earnings, as well as estimates of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits based on those earnings. Here’s how to get a copy of your statement, and why it deserves more than just a quick glance, even if you’re years away from retirement.

Social-Security-is-important-to-women-at-every-stage-in-life

Source: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/socialmedia/photoblog/posts/2013/march.html

How do you get your statement?

In September 2014, the SSA began mailing Social Security Statements to most workers every five years. Workers attaining ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 who are not receiving Social Security benefits and are not registered for an online account will receive a statement in the mail about three months before their next birthday. Workers older than age 60 will receive a statement every year.

But why wait? A more convenient way to view your Social Security Statement is online. First, visit socialsecurity.gov to sign up for a personal my Social Security account (you must be 18 or older to sign up online). Once you have an account, you can view your Social Security Statement anytime you want, as often as you want.

Check your estimated benefits

Your Social Security Statement gives you information about retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. It tells you whether you’ve earned enough credits to qualify for these benefits and, if you qualify, how much you can expect to receive. As each Social Security Statement notes, the amounts listed are only estimates based on your average earnings in the past and a projection of future earnings. Actual benefits you receive may be different if your earnings increase or decrease in the future. Amounts may also be affected by cost-of-living increases (estimates are in today’s dollars) and other income you receive. Estimated benefits are also based on current law, which could change in the future.

Retirement benefits
Although Social Security was never intended to be the sole source of retirement income, retirement benefits are still very important to many retirees. Your statement shows estimates of how much you can expect to receive if you begin receiving benefits at three different ages: your full retirement age (66 to 67, depending on your birth year), age 62 (your benefit will be lower), or age 70 (your benefit will be higher). When to start claiming Social Security is a big decision that will affect your overall retirement income, so if you’re approaching retirement, this information can be especially useful. But even if you’re years away from retirement, it’s important to know how much you might receive, so that you can take this information into account as you set retirement savings goals.

Disability benefits
Disability is unpredictable and can happen suddenly to anyone at any age. Disability benefits from Social Security can be an important source of financial support in the event that you’re unable to work and earn a living. Check your Social Security Statement to find out what you might receive each month if you become disabled.

Survivor benefits
Survivor protection is a valuable Social Security benefit you may not even realize you have. Upon your death, your survivors such as your spouse, ex-spouse, and children may be eligible to receive benefits based on your earnings record. Review your Social Security Statement to find out whether your survivors can count on this valuable source of income.

Review your earnings record

In addition to benefit information, your Social Security Statement contains a year-by-year record of your earnings. This record is updated whenever your employer reports your earnings (or if you’re self-employed, when you report your own earnings). Earnings are generally reported annually, so keep in mind that your earnings from last year may not yet be on your statement.

It’s a good idea to make sure that your earnings have been reported correctly, because mistakes do happen. You can do this by comparing your earnings record against past tax returns or W-2s you’ve received. This is an important step to take because your Social Security benefits are based on your average lifetime earnings. If your earnings have been reported incorrectly, you may not receive the benefits to which you’re entitled.

What if you find errors? The SSA advises you to call right away if any earnings are reported incorrectly. The SSA phone number is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

infographic - social security effects from pay gap

Source: http://www.facethefactsusa.org/facts/male-retirees-get-bigger-social-security-checks

Important Disclosure

 

 

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The Rule of 100 — How It Really Works

Many people are familiar with the Rule of 100 as a guide for determining general guidelines for a proper balance of your financial assets.

The Rule of 100 works like this: you take your age and subtract it from 100, so 100 minus your age gives you some number. Let’s say you’re 48 years old. If you take 100 minus 48, what do you get? You get 52.

So, how do you use that in your financial strategies? Well, the 52 as a general rule will represent the maximum percentage of your financial assets that you would want to allocate to financial vehicles exposed to any form of market risk. This would typically include stocks, bonds, mutual funds. These products provide the potential for both unlimited upside and unlimited downside.

The portion that represents your age, 48 is the percentage of your assets that you may want to allocate to those financial vehicles generally considered more secure.

And this is the area that sometimes trips people up with regard to the Rule of 100. The concept of balancing your assets between risk and more secure financial products is pretty simple, but sometimes people are unsure which products are considered to be more secure. As a result, they may end up with a poor balance between riskier and more secure products, even though they believe they have adhered to the Rule of 100.

So, here are the financial vehicles that can be considered to offer a level of protection from market losses – CDs, many government-issued securities, fixed annuities and fixed index annuities. What each of these have in common is that you are not subject losses due to market fluctuations.

So, when using the Rule of 100, these are the vehicles you may, with the help of your financial professional, want to consider, to help balance the assets you have allocated to risk.

 

This is provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as the basis for any financial decisions.

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Last-Minute Tax Tips

It’s that time of year again–tax filing season. And while many taxpayers like to get a head start on filing their returns, there are those of us who always find ourselves scrambling at the last minute to get our tax returns filed on time. Fortunately, even for us procrastinators, there is still time to take advantage of some last-minute tax tips.

time for taxes

If you need more time, get an extension

Failing to file your federal tax return on time could result in a failure-to-file penalty. If you don’t think you’ll be able to file your tax return on time, you can file for and obtain an automatic six-month extension by using IRS Form 4868. You must file for an extension by the original due date for your return. Individuals whose due date is April 15 would then have until October 15 to file their returns.

In most cases, this six-month extension is an extension to file your tax return and not an extension to pay any federal income tax that is due. You should estimate and pay any federal income tax that is due by the original due date of the return without regard to the extension, since any taxes that are not paid by the regular due date will be subject to interest and possibly penalties.

infographic - have you filed your taxes yet

http://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/infographic-have-you-filed-your-taxes-yet-n77881

Try to lower your tax bill

While most tax-saving strategies require action prior to the end of the tax year, it’s still not too late to try to lower your tax bill by making deductible contributions to a traditional IRA and/or pre-tax contributions to an existing qualified Health Savings Account (HSA). If you’re eligible, you can make contributions to these tax-saving vehicles at any time before your tax return becomes due, not including extensions (for most individuals, by April 15 of the year following the year for which contributions are being made).

For tax year 2014, you may be eligible to contribute up to $5,500 to a traditional IRA as long as you’re under age 70½ and have earned income. In addition, if you’re age 50 or older, you may be able to make an extra “catch-up” contribution of $1,000. You can make deductible contributions to a traditional IRA if neither you nor your spouse is covered by an employer retirement plan; however, if one of you is covered by an employer plan, eligibility to deduct contributions phases out at higher modified adjusted gross income limits. For existing qualified HSAs, you can contribute up to $3,300 for individual coverage or $6,550 for family coverage.

woman with a budgeting jar

Use your tax refund wisely

It’s easy to get excited at tax time when you find out you’ll be getting a refund from the IRS–especially if it’s a large sum of money. But instead of purchasing that 60-inch LCD television you’ve had your eye on, you may want to use your tax refund in a more practical way. Consider the following options:

  • Deposit your refund into a tax-savings vehicle (if you’re eligible), such as a retirement or education savings plan–the IRS even allows direct deposit of refunds into certain types of accounts, such as IRAs and Coverdell education savings accounts.
  • Use your refund to pay down any existing debt you may have, especially if it is in the form of credit-card balances that carry high interest rates.
  • Put your refund toward increasing your cash reserve–it’s a good idea to always have at least three to six months worth of living expenses available in case of an emergency.

Finally, a tax refund is essentially an interest-free loan from you to the IRS. If you find that you always end up receiving a large income tax refund, it may be time to adjust your withholding.

don't become a victim

Beware of possible tax scams

Though tax scams can occur throughout the year, they are especially prevalent during tax season. Some of the more common scams include:

  • Identity thieves who use your identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund.
  • Callers who claim they’re from the IRS insisting that you owe money to the IRS or that you’re entitled to a large refund.
  • Unsolicited e-mails or fake websites, often referred to as “phishing,” that pose as legitimate IRS sites to convince you to disclose personal or financial information.
  • Scam artists who pose as tax preparers and promise unreasonably large or inflated refunds in order to commit refund fraud or identity theft.

The IRS will never call you about taxes owed without sending you a bill in the mail. If you think you may owe taxes, contact the IRS directly at www.irs.gov. In addition, the IRS will never initiate contact with you by e-mail to request personal or financial information. If you believe that you’ve been the victim of a tax scam, or would like to report a tax scammer, contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at www.treasury.gov/tigta.

Important Disclosure