The income tax deadline of April 15 is approaching, and St. Lawrence County residents who have not filed might feel pressured and succumb to tax scams that state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is warning about.

Schneiderman offered tips to avoid falling victim to reported tax prep scams and asked people to notify his office of any suspected fraudulent schemes designed to steal personal and financial information from consumers.

Each year, the Attorney General office receives complaints about various tax preparation schemes. This year, they have received numerous complaints about scammers impersonating IRS officials and attempting to collect bogus tax debts. The scammers often threaten lawsuits or arrest if consumers fail to turn over money or provide sensitive personal information. Often the scammers claim consumers owe past tax debts and insist that consumers pay using a pre-paid credit card. Pre-paid credit cards are generally difficult to trace and that is why many scammers insist this form of payment.

In an effort to help avoid tax-themed scams, the Attorney General’s Office offers the following tips:

• The IRS and legitimate government agencies never demand payment by phone;

• If you owe money, you will receive a legitimate notice in writing that identifies the agency and the reason you owe money;

• Do not give out personal information, including your Social Security number or bank account information, to telephone callers;

• Legitimate government organizations will never threaten arrest or deportation for failure to pay a debt;

• Legitimate government agencies will never insist that consumers pay a debt only via a pre-paid credit card.

The following suggestions will help consumers file their tax returns safely and keep more of their return:

• If you use a tax-preparation service, use only established and recognizable companies;

• Check the tax preparer's qualifications and history through the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org);

• Ask for a written estimate of all fees; avoid those who base their fees on a percentage of your refund;

• Make sure the tax preparer is accessible, even after the April due date;

• Never sign a blank return;

• Review entire return before signing;

• Make sure the preparer signs the tax form and includes a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN);

• Consult New York's “Consumer Bill of Rights Regarding Tax Preparers.”

Consumers should also beware of refund anticipation loans (RALs) and refund anticipation checks (RACs). RALs are often marketed as "instant" or "24-hour" refunds but are actually high-cost loans that come with fees and interest that reduce the amount of any refund. New York State’s General Business Law section 372 (known as the Consumer Bill of Rights regarding Tax Preparers), requires RALs to be marketed as loans – not refunds. RACs are temporary bank accounts established on behalf of a taxpayer into which a direct-deposit refund can be received –but these also come with fees that will reduce the consumer’s refund.

The tax preparer must give the consumer a written disclosure that explains: That consumers are not required to take out a refund anticipation loan or refund anticipation check in order to receive your tax refund; the amount of fees and interest consumers will have to pay for a refund anticipation loan or refund anticipation check; the amount consumers will receive after the fees and interest are deducted; the annual percentage rate of interest that consumers will be charged; the amount the refund will be without a refund anticipation loan and consumers can avoid the costs of refund anticipation loans and checks by filing their return electronically and having refunds mailed or directly deposited into their own bank accounts.

Consumers may report suspected instances of consumer fraud by calling 1-800-771-7755 or visiting www.ag.ny.gov.

The Attorney General also reminds New Yorkers that there are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites where consumers can get their tax returns prepared free of charge. Info: www.irs.gov.