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Tax Tea with Melinda Tolbert
By melindatolbertEducation
Tax Tea with Melinda Tolbert episodes
- The IRS Dirty Dozen: 12 Tax Scams Targeting Taxpayers and Businesses in 2024
Every year, the IRS names the 12 tax scams putting taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals at the most risk. Here's what made the 2024 list.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert walks through all 12 scams on the 2024 IRS Dirty Dozen list. They include bogus tax strategies, illegal schemes aimed at high-income filers, bad tax advice on social media, ghost tax preparers, offer in compromise mills, aggressive ERTC promoters, and phishing and smishing scams.
She explains why signing your tax return means you agree to 100% of what's on it, why "pennies on the dollar" settlements are never guaranteed, and how fake Employee Retention Tax Credit claims are now under investigation. She also covers why password protecting a document still won't stop a determined hacker. For taxpayers and business owners, the lesson is simple: know who is handling your taxes, understand everything on your return, and protect your sensitive information.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: The IRS Dirty Dozen: 12 Tax Scams Targeting Taxpayers and Businesses in 2024
Key Takeaways:
- You own everything on your tax return. When you sign it, you agree to 100% of what's on it. That makes bogus tax strategies aimed at high earners, bad advice from social media, and ghost preparers who never sign or add their PTIN all your risk, so understand everything being added to your business and personal returns.
- Offer in compromise is real, but guarantees aren't. The program is a great option for people who actually qualify. Approval depends on very detailed calculations, so any company guaranteeing you can settle for pennies on the dollar is overpromising.
- Fake ERTC claims are under investigation. Some promoters inflated employee counts on 941 returns for businesses that never qualified for the Employee Retention Tax Credit. The government paid out a lot of money, and businesses that received the credit are now being investigated.
- Sensitive information doesn't belong in your inbox. Business owners should not accept Social Security numbers or bank account numbers by email. Even password protected documents can be accessed by hackers who want the information badly enough.
Key Points:
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Scam #1: bogus tax strategies
01:14 Scam #3: high-income filers targeted by illegal tax schemes
02:03 Scam #5: tax advice on social media
02:13 Why you agree to 100% of your tax return when you sign it
02:44 Scam #6: ghost tax preparers
03:19 Scam #8: offer in compromise mills
03:41 The truth about "pennies on the dollar" settlements
04:17 False fuel credit claims and helpful scammers
04:46 Scam #11: aggressive ERTC promoters
05:32 How fake ERTC claims were built
06:14 ERTC investigations and paying the credit back
06:35 Scam #12: phishing and smishing scams
06:58 Why password protection won't stop hackers
07:38 Final takeaways
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbertFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxreliefLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/Website: https://www.melindatolbert.com/8 min - 5 Tax Mistakes That Will Get You Audited By The IRS
Some tax mistakes cost you a little money. Others get you audited, and a few can land you in federal prison.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down the tax mistakes most likely to get you audited by the IRS, including improper child tax credit claims, unreported gig and side income, improper home office deductions, incorrectly claiming the earned income tax credit, and failing to report cryptocurrency income.
She explains the difference between an honest tax mistake and tax fraud, why filing exempt every year to avoid withholding is fraud, and what fraud can cost you, from penalties of up to 75% of the unpaid tax to fines of up to $100,000 and prison time. For taxpayers and business owners, the lesson is simple: if it's income, report it, and if you don't qualify, don't claim it.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: 5 Tax Mistakes That Will Get You Audited By The IRS
Key Takeaways:
- A mistake and fraud are not the same thing. An honest error is one thing, but knowingly withholding information or filling out forms incorrectly to get a benefit is fraud. That includes filing exempt every year just to avoid federal withholding.
- All income has to be reported, 1099 or not. Gig work like Uber and Instacart, eBay sales, and other side income all belong on your return, even if no 1099 was issued. The IRS is going to find out.
- The home office deduction requires exclusive business use. Overstating the square footage inflates your deduction, and claiming a shared family space as business only is intentional deception. If the room isn't used exclusively for business, don't take the deduction.
- Tax credits come with clear qualification rules. The child tax credit and the earned income tax credit have defined criteria for who qualifies and how much they can claim. If you fall outside those rules, claiming the credit puts you at risk of tax fraud.
- Crypto is income, and it needs to be reported. The IRS has decided virtual currency counts as income. Unreported transactions can lead to interest, penalties, and in some cases criminal charges, so work with a tax professional who actually knows current tax law.
Key Points:
00:00 Introduction
00:58 What tax fraud actually is01:43 Why filing exempt every year is fraud02:01 Penalties for committing tax fraud02:30 Mistake #1: improper child tax credit claims03:09 Mistake #2: failing to report all your income03:39 Why no 1099 does not mean no reporting04:08 Mistake #3: improper home office deductions04:48 When a home office claim becomes fraud04:48 Mistake #4: incorrectly claiming the earned income tax credit05:26 Who qualifies for the earned income tax credit06:16 Mistake #5: failing to report crypto income06:32 The IRS decided crypto is income07:30 Why your tax preparer needs to know tax law08:04 Final takeawaysMelinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: @melinda_tolbert
Facebook: MJ Tax Relief
LinkedIn: Melinda Tolbert
Website: melindatolbert.com
9 min - 10 Biggest PPP Fraud Mistakes That Send Business Owners to Prison
PPP fraud investigations are still moving, and the paper trail is doing the talking.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down the biggest PPP fraud mistakes that can send business owners to prison, including fake Schedule C filings, fake employees, inflated payroll, multiple PPP loans, and spending PPP funds on luxury items.
She explains why investigators compare PPP applications, tax returns, Forms 941, payroll records, bank records, loan certifications, and spending activity when fraud is suspected. For business owners and tax professionals, the lesson is simple: every document needs to tell the same story.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: 10 Biggest PPP Fraud Mistakes That Send Business Owners to Prison
Key Points:
00:07 The tax return that exposed PPP fraud
01:34 PPP fraud cases are still active
02:04 Mistake #1: fake Schedule C filings
04:14 PPP application vs. tax return mismatch
05:22 How agencies compare records
06:13 Mistake #2: fake employees
08:01 Utah accountant payroll fraud case
10:10 Why unread certifications create exposure
11:49 Mistake #3: inflated payroll
13:01 Colorado payroll inflation case
15:29 Why altered Forms 941 are dangerous
16:58 Mistake #4: multiple PPP loans
19:10 Why another LLC does not mean eligibility
21:47 Mistake #5: luxury spending
23:26 Arkansas Mo PPP spending case
26:19 How investigators trace PPP spending
28:30 Paying money back does not erase fraud
29:35 Recap of the first five mistakes
29:55 Final lesson: documents tell the story
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
32 min - Indictment of the Week: The $145 Million Tax Magician
The Tax Magician case is a reminder that fake deductions can create real federal consequences.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert launches her Indictment of the Week series with the federal tax preparer fraud case involving Rafael Alvarez, also known as the Tax Magician, and A-Tax New York.
She breaks down the alleged decade long scheme, the $145 million tax loss, the use of bogus deductions, fabricated capital losses, fake business expenses, fraudulent tax credits, and why taxpayers can still face consequences when a preparer puts false information on their return.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: Indictment of the Week: The $145 Million Tax Magician
Key Points:
00:06 Opening and introduction
00:22 Introducing Indictment of the Week
01:08 The $145 million question
04:57 When IRS audits become criminal cases
07:47 The Bronx “Tax Magician” case
09:24 Charges, timeline, and 90,000 returns
10:51 Fake deductions, losses, expenses, and credits
11:36 What taxpayers should ask about large refunds
13:35 IRS red flags in preparer fraud
15:45 Prison, restitution, and forfeiture
17:50 Why the Tax Court case still matters
19:23 Criminal court vs. Tax Court
21:35 How ghost preparers manipulate refunds
23:29 What comes next in the series
24:33 Why tax pros must understand fraud schemes
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
#IRSWarRoom #TaxFraud #TaxCompliance
27 min - Final Notice Of Intent To Levy: What Taxpayers Need To Know
A final notice of intent to levy is not a letter to ignore.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda explains what LT16 letters and final notice of intent to levy warnings can mean, how tax liens can lead to tax levies, and what taxpayers should know before calling the IRS to see what the government knows.
She also discusses ERC-related notices, why receiving ERC funds without qualifying can become a serious problem, what to do if a taxpayer is billed for ERC money they never received, and what Enrolled Agent candidates should know as PSI takes over the EA exam administration.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: Final Notice Of Intent To Levy: What Taxpayers Need To Know
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
10 min - New - BREAKING: The SBA Just Unleashed AI to Hunt PPP Fraud
PPP and EIDL enforcement may be entering a new AI-driven phase.
Melinda Tolbert is breaking down what the SBA’s expanded use of Palantir technology could mean for business owners, borrowers, and tax professionals now.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda explains how Palantir may help the SBA analyze large datasets, flag patterns, identify possible coordinated schemes, generate investigative leads, and support fraud detection tied to PPP and EIDL loans.
She also explains why this is not about robots replacing investigators, why records still matter years after pandemic relief money was issued, why forgiveness does not automatically close every issue, and why business owners need to know what is inside their PPP, EIDL, and ERC files before the government starts asking questions.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: BREAKING: The SBA Just Unleashed AI to Hunt PPP Fraud
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
30 min - $600 Million ERC Fraud: The Evidence Breakdown
ERC fraud cases are not built on guesses. They are built on evidence.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down the evidence behind an alleged $600 million COVID tax credit scheme involving ERC claims, false Form 941 filings, financial records, phone extractions, IRS call center records, fake W-2 submissions, surveillance, and social media posts.
She explains how federal investigators build cases, why deleted messages and online activity can still matter, what bond conditions can look like after an arrest, and why taxpayers and tax professionals need to understand that the evidence trail can be much bigger than one filing.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: $600 Million ERC Fraud: The Evidence Breakdown
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
17 min - Attorney Sentenced To Federal Prison For Tax Evasion
Tax debt is serious, but tax evasion is a completely different conversation.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda Tolbert breaks down a federal tax case involving an Atlanta attorney who was convicted of evading nearly $1.5 million in federal income taxes over multiple years and sentenced to federal prison.
She explains the difference between owing taxes and tax evasion, why the IRS looks for patterns, how ignoring tax issues can lead to enforcement action, and why hiding income, concealing assets, or evading collections can turn a tax problem into a criminal problem.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: Attorney Sentenced To Federal Prison For Tax Evasion
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
13 min - The $13 Million PPP And Tax Fraud Case
A fake gold mine, 493 alleged employees, and a $13 million paper trail.
Melinda Tolbert is breaking down what this case teaches business owners and tax professionals now.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda breaks down a federal case involving alleged fake tax losses, a $3.3 million Treasury check, a nearly $10 million PPP loan application, fake payroll reports, luxury spending, and the records prosecutors used to tell the story.
She explains why identity details matter, how PPP certifications can become evidence, why lifestyle spending can be powerful in court, and what tax professionals need to understand before a client’s unsupported paperwork becomes their own exposure.
Listen to this episode of IRS War Room: The $13 Million PPP And Tax Fraud Case
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
31 min - The SBA Is Going State by State Is Your PPP Loan Under Review
The SBA is going state by state after suspected PPP fraud, and Melinda Tolbert is explaining why business owners should not treat this as someone else's problem.
In this episode of IRS War Room, Melinda breaks down the SBA's state by state enforcement effort, the Ohio borrower suspensions, and why similar actions in California, Minnesota, Maine, and Ohio point to a broader strategy around pandemic loan fraud.
She also explains why PPP forgiveness does not automatically erase fraud concerns, why large platforms or consultants do not guarantee accurate filings, what borrowers should review in their PPP file, and why preparation matters before the government starts asking questions.
If you want to listen to Melinda's first breakdown of the $22 billion PPP fraud, go to this episode of IRS War Room first: The $22 Billion PPP Fraud Crackdown → [link] Then come back and listen to the new episode of IRS War Room: The SBA Is Going State by State: Is Your PPP Loan Under Review?
Melinda Tolbert, EA, is the CEO of MJ Tax Relief Group and a nationally recognized expert in IRS collections and payroll tax issues. Her practice focuses on challenging IRS problems, including audits, collections, and appeals, helping small business owners and taxpayers regain control of their finances.
Connect with Melinda:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melinda_tolbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjtaxrelief
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindatolbert/
Website: https://mjtax.com/
22 min
About Tax Tea with Melinda Tolbert
From the publisher's feed
Welcome to Tax Tea with Melinda Tolbert, your go-to podcast for the hottest tax topics. Join Melinda Tolbert as she spills the tea on IRS secrets, scams, tax relief insights, and insider tips. Sit…
down, sip some tea, and dive into the intriguing world of taxation.