Don't Put Yourself or Your Benefits in Jeopardy
The earned income tax credit (EITC) can reduce the taxes you owe and even put a tax refund in your pocket ... if you are eligible to claim it.
Recently, more and more Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients have been making the mistake of claiming the EITC on the basis of make-believe income.
Often, disabled people who try to defraud the government in this way have been talked into it by scam artists who have been convincing immigrants (illegal or not) to do the exact same thing for years. How does it work? Usually, in exchange for a portion of any refund you receive, an individual or local business owner will show you how to claim the credit, and may even go so far as to provide you with a false W-2 earnings statement. Then you file your taxes and wait for the refund to show up.
Unfortunately, not every story has the happy ending part.
What Can Happen?
When you claim the EITC but haven't actually earned the income, you have committed tax fraud — a federal crime that can put you in prison for up to five years. Committing this kind of fraud could also lead to a reduction, suspension or termination of the disability benefits you are receiving from the government. Meanwhile, because it's your signature on the tax return and no one else's — the person or persons who talked you into this and walked away with a portion of the your refund are not likely to suffer any consequences whatsoever.
Talk to your disability attorney before doing anything that might put your future or your disability benefits in jeopardy.
Since 1985, the lawyers of Shifrin Newman Smith Inc. have helped thousands of people in Akron, Cleveland and throughout the state of Ohio to obtain disability benefits from the government — and to keep them as well. If you have questions about working, the dangers of the earned income tax credit or anything else involving government disability benefits, we are here to help.
To schedule a free consultation, call 877-230-5500 or contact us online.
