Insights & Updates

Don't Let Your Spring Graduate Leave Money on the Table

If your student walked across a graduation stage this spring, there's a valuable education tax credit we want you to know about.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) can be worth up to $2,500, and graduating seniors often qualify in their final year of school. Here's the key: the IRS looks at whether a student has completed four years of post-secondary education before the start of the tax year, not whether they finished during it. A student who graduated in May entered January as a second-semester senior. That counts.

Is It Really the IRS? What Every Taxpayer Should Know

With scams on the rise, knowing how the IRS actually operates is your best defense.

How the IRS Will Contact You

The IRS typically contacts you first by mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. After that initial letter, they may follow up by phone, but email and text messages are only sent with your prior permission. 

The IRS Will Never:

• Accept gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or cryptocurrency as payment
• Send automated calls that threaten you or direct you to websites other than IRS.gov
• Threaten to involve law enforcement or immigration officials
• Contact you through social media direct messages
• Mail you tax debt resolution advertisements

One Simple Rule: Call Us First

If you receive any letter, notice, or correspondence from the IRS or any other government agency, please forward it to our office before responding or taking any action. We can verify it's legitimate and guide you on next steps. A real IRS notice will always give you time to respond — scammers count on you not taking that time.

Ampersand header image courtesy of John Weber