THE TAX MAN IS LOGGING IN, SOCIAL NETWORK USERS-BEWARE

THE TAX

MAN

IS LOGGING IN

While I was typing away on my keyboard last night in my office, trying once again to get twelve more hours of a brief completed in two hours (why do I always and I do mean always underestimate the amount of time required to prepare an awesome, kick butt, persuasive brief?)

     I have been told that my ADHD (adult hyperactive attention disorder) is a contributing factor. I have also learned that one of the many, not so glowing characteristics of adults who suffer from ADD or ADHD have other flaws in common. Not the least of which is our inability to arrive timely. I certainly suffer from this  but I doubt the Judge’s I appear in front of will allow me to turn in an article I read on the web as my excuse, my plea to avoid another tongue lashing.

    See, my ADHD already took me on a diverted path as I write this article. Let me turn your attention (more accurately-my attention) back to the current issue.) As you can see I am easily distracted, so when a floating blip cruised my screen with the byline:

IRS

now using Face Book, MySpace, Twitter and other social networks to nab delinquent tax payers; I had to read it.

     The article was followed by an interesting, informative and downright scary video from fox business news.

     Reporter,

Sandra

Smith

said it best, “When the

IRS

needs to generate revenue they will use every hook or crook.” Apparently The Internal Revenue Service has been using social network sites to get information on delinquent tax payers. In some cases they have even been able to nab tax evaders by logging on to Face Book, MySpace, Twitter and other social network sites.

     In one case reported by Fox Business News, the tax man logged on to MySpace and found the location of a tax evader who listed his new address as part of a relocation application that was sent out to all his MySpace friends. This man posted a comment alerting all that he was relocating back to his hometown for his new job. He was a realtor and even gave the name of his new boss and the real estate agency he would be working for & boasted about his increase in salary. The

IRS

successfully seized his assets, bank accounts, real property and recovered the full amount owed.

     On the subject of boasting, one high priced

D.J.

, boasted about an upcoming gig he landed and how much money he was making. He gave a detailed description of the celebrity party in

California

where he would be hosting as a top dog DJ. The

IRS

agents made an unannounced visit to the party and nabbed the DJ.

    Fox new reporter gives these suggestions if you are a regular on social networking sites and you are on the run from the tax man. You may want to take these precautions.

·       Mark you privacy settings so that only your actual friends, not even friends of friends, can view your profile and your personal information

·       Don’t list personal information that discloses your location, relocation, income, job status, salary, bonuses

·       Don’t boast about income

·       Don’t boast about expensive and elaborate vacations

·       Don’t post photos of your recent trip to the South of France

·       Don’t post photos that may disclose you location

·       Don’t brag about your new Beemer or corvette or post photos of your new car, motorcycle or RV. (You get the picture) just don’t share it with the world.

Sandra

Smith

contacted some State and Federal

IRS

agents to get their scoop. They admitted scouring social network sites to nab delinquent tax payers and tax evaders. One agent talked about how easy MySpace, Face Book and Twitter are making his job. He said that agents used to have to go into local communities and try to talk to family and friends or former co workers about any information they may have about the subject of the

IRS

’s investigation. Now they just log on and POOF it is all there for the world to see.

     Which has to lead to this question: What are the limitations on this new kind of scouring for dead beat tax payers? MySpace, which is owned by the same parent corporation as Fox Business news had little to say about the issue. It is so new that the lines have not been clearly drawn, but there are some limitations.

     For Example, they agents cannot log on and pose as or pretend to be a friend of the target of their investigation. But I have to wonder; who is policing them and how can we be certain they will not pose as a friend. We accept so many friends of friends and so on and so on.

     The

IRS

had this to say in response,”If it is public information, we can access it.” So there you have it. You have been warned. Take precautions. If you are not a delinquent tax payer, take precautions anyway. We have already learned how the police are using the social sites to gain information on suspects and on fugitives. But there could be more dangerous consequences down the road. Isn’t this a breeding ground for stalking? Harassment by ex’s? The list is infinite. Guard your personal information just as you would lock your doors to your home.

     For more, check out the story at www.foxbusiness.com

And don’t miss this video:

http://video.foxbusiness.com/8785913/tax-man-is-logging-in/?category_id=b56a32bfe7af4a7bd95bd9d88962a05c8ec92b22

http://video.foxbusiness.com/8785913/tax-man-is-logging-in/?category_id=b56a32bfe7af4a7bd95bd9d88962a05c8ec92b22