Gephardt: How To Tell If A Surprise Tax Refund Is Real

LAYTON, Utah — The Feds pushed back this year’s tax filing deadline to July 15th after the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced in the United States. Regardless of when it is, tax time will always be a prime time for scammers.

When a Layton couple received an unexpected tax refund check, they contacted the KSL Investigators to make sure their surprise windfall was real.

Bruce and Teresa Talbot received the treasury check out-of-the-blue, with no explanation.

The Talbots had already paid their 2019 taxes months ago and had already received their stimulus check, also known as an Economic Impact Payment.

They were concerned that the new check might be a scam of some sort.

“We couldn’t see why we were getting a refund,” said Bruce Talbot.

You cannot blame him for being worried. Tax scams take on all shapes and sizes.

The IRS has warned taxpayers of refund scams where thieves have stolen records from professional tax preparers to send out fraudulent checks, and then call their victims soon after saying there’s been an error and demand they wire the refund back immediately.

The Talbots have heard about IRS impostors threatening arrest, unless people pay up on “so-called” back taxes.

So, when they couldn’t get someone from the IRS to answer his calls about this mystery check, they called the KSL Investigators.

The investigative team looked at several things to make sure the Talbots’ check was the real deal.

First, hold the check to the light. If it’s good, you’ll see a watermark that shows the words “US TREASURY” frontwards and backwards across the check.

Next, check the back of the check. That endorsement line is not just a line. Under a magnifying glass, you will see it is made up the with the tiny letters ‘USA’ printed over and over in microprinting.

Another test: run a black light over the check. On a real treasury check, it reveals a hidden, ultraviolet pattern made up of the words “FISCAL SERVICES” with seals on both sides. The Talbots’ check had that security feature.

One last place investigators checked was the Treasury Department’s online verification app. After inputting the check’s numbers and the amounts, the app said the check matched the Treasury Department’s records.

The check was legitimate.

At this point, the Talbots have not received any threatening calls demanding they wire the money back, and they have not received an explanation from the IRS, which generally shows up in the mail several days to a week after an unexpected check is received.

Just to be safe, the Talbots said they will hold onto that money until an agent sits down with them and makes sure they were supposed to get that check.

If you get an unexpected check and cannot get answers by phone, take it to the nearest IRS office and ask for verification. Occasionally, the IRS will make simple math corrections on tax returns and send an adjusted refund.

Also, if the IRS makes an error and sends you money by mistake, you must pay it back once the error is discovered.

The U.S. Treasury Department has a guide to help people identify real treasury checks.