Desert Messenger

28 www.DesertMessenger.com February 20, 2019 • Birth • Obituary • Anniversary Place it FREE in the: Desert Messenger! 928-916-4235 Got something to share? Be on the lookout for shady tax preparers THRIFT STORE Benefitting the La Paz County Animal Shelter in Parker Supported by your generous donations! 455 E. Main St. Quartzsite Open Tues. thru Sat. 9-3 928-927-4223 READER'S OASIS BOOKS 690 E. Main - Quartzsite (one block east of Family Dollar) Arizona Department of Revenue alerts taxpayers to be on lookout for shady tax preparers The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) is reminding taxpayers to exercise due diligence in the selection of tax preparers. The IRS indicates roughly 60 percent of tax fi lers use tax preparation services. While the majority of tax preparers are professional and qualifi ed, there are cases where some have attempted to submit fraudulent returns or promised larger tax refunds by making unsubstantiated changes to the tax return. Taxpayer responsibilities • Ensure the tax preparer provides you with a copy of the entire return. • Insist the preparer provide a copy of the schedules if there are itemized deductions or credits. • Ask the preparer to explain the return, including deductions, credits and wages claimed. • Review the tax return before submitting to ensure numbers are correct and schedules add up to source documents provided to the tax preparer. • Know preparers are prohibited from charging a percentage of a taxpay- er's refund as their fee. Some key questions to ask • What kind of formal training does the preparer have and how current is the training? Where did the preparer receive the training? • What professional licenses or designations does the preparer hold? These include: accredited tax preparer (ATP), accredited tax advisor (ATA), certifi ed public accountant (CPA), enrolled agent (EA) or regis- tered accounting practitioner (RAP). • Does the preparer belong to any professional organizations? How long has the preparer been doing tax returns? • Does the preparer offer e-fi le services? • Is the preparer available year-round? • Will the preparer explain how the return was prepared in the event of an examination by ADOR or the IRS? • Did the preparer explain charges for services in advance? • Does the preparer provide copies of complete returns to clients? In 2018, ADOR's Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) stopped more than $1.8 million from nearly 2,000 fraudulent returns submitted by tax pre- parers. The Department of Revenue continues to introduce new counter- measures to confi rm if a tax return is being fi led by the real taxpayer and that claimed deductions and credits are legitimate. ADOR recommends taxpayers with questions contact the department's Identity Theft Call Center at: 602-716-6300, toll free: 1-800-352-4090 or: azdor.gov/individual-income-tax-information/identity-theft. Bingo around the area Compiled by Cyndee Oswald Sunday: • VFW $1 card, with a break during which there is a baked potato bar (2:30-4:30) Monday: • Desert Gold (Brenda) doors open at 5, Bingo starts at 6:30 Tuesday: • Desert Gardens RV Park, Min Buy in is $10 for 15 games. Doors open at 5. Bingo starts at 6:45 • Holiday Palms RV Park 7pm Wednesday: • Senior Center Doors open at 5pm, Deli opens at 5:30, Early Birds start at 6:30, Reg bingo at 7. Thursday: • Bouse Booster Club $5 Per Pack buy in, Extra blackouts $1, Red White and Blue $1 each. Free coffee and popcorn • Desert Gardens (see Tuesday) • Wagons West Bingo starts at 6:30 $5 extra blackout $1 and red white and blue $1 Friday: • QIA Doors open at 5 Early birds at 6:30, Reg at 7. $12 buy in, early birds extra Saturday: • Senior Center (see Wednesday) • Black Rock RV Village, Doors open at 5:30 pm. Bingo starts at 6:30 pm. 3 cards for 10 games $5.00 Contact Desert Messenger to have your bingo listed. 928-916-4235 Editor@DesertMessenger.com Quartzsite TOPS Chapter 0078 on Winter Hours! Meets at the Quartzsite Alliance Church, 720 W Desert Vista. Every Tues- day morning. Weigh-ins starting at 7:30A.M. Meeting begins at 8A.M. - 9A.M. Drop-ins welcome. For information call Nancy at 928-210-6564.

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