ROANOKE (WSLS10) - Filing your taxes can be daunting for some. With scammers claiming to be the IRS, it's sometimes hard to tell what's legitimate and what's not.
There are many different ways to file your taxes, but it doesn't have to be a challenging process.
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"For me, I'm going to talk to people that I know," said Detective Dale Brink, with the Roanoke City Police Department. "Everybody has a friend or two who's like 'who do you use, who do you recommend, who do you trust. How many years have you used them'."
Detective Brink told us he file's online. Working IRS fraud scams he knows the importance of finding a trusted website when filing his taxes and handing over his personal information.
"Where you want to start is on the IRS website and find which companies they recommend, which sites they have vetted and they make sure are secure," said Julie Wheeler, the President of the BBB serving western Virginia.
Some filing websites like the IRS' E-file or myfreetaxes.com do it free of charge for people who make $62,000 or less. United Way of the Roanoke Valley launched a national program just this year; the organization told us it's safe, because they utilize a partnership with H&R Block.
"Last year, more than 200,000 people filed through this system and it launched in 2009," said Lydia Merritt, the vice president of marketing and communication for United Way of Roanoke Valley. "So, its definitely had time to get its legs under it, for many people to test it out, and that it's up and ready to go."
But, if it's not the way for you, a certified public accountant or tax specialist can also help.
As a friendly reminder, the BBB said you'll need a few pieces of personal information when filing like your W-2 forms, proof of health insurance, and social security card.
"File as early as you can is a good one," said Wheeler. "Make sure that you protect your social security number. That is a huge thing we tell people all the time."
To protect your personal information always use a secure computer when filing online.
The BBB reported IRS scams as the number one complaint during tax season last year. And, here in the Star City, the Roanoke City Police Department told us they totaled up to 50 tax scams.