IRS makes changes to reduce scams and schemes [Video]

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Tax season kicks off in one week, on Jan. 27, and it’s a time when scammers ramp up their schemes.

Before you file your taxes, there are new rules this year meant to protect taxpayers.

The changes include a new form involving the fuel tax credit. It’s designed to make it harder for taxpayers to be misled into claiming the credit by promoters.

It’s a specialized credit that’s been promoted on social media, designed for off-highway business and farming use. You need to be eligible to claim the credit, and the IRS says most taxpayers don’t qualify.

Also, the IRS says it’s stepping up review on a variety of “other withholding” claims on Form 1040 that have been targets of scammers.

The IRS also says it’s reaching out to taxpayers who have potentially been using “ghost preparers” to prepare tax returns. These preparers don’t identify …