Amy Qualliotine, Outreach Associate

This post is the second in a series of weekly posts containing tax information and filing tips. Check back next week for our next post, or click here to read past posts.

We’ve all seen it – the person on the corner dressed as some patriotic character spinning around a “HUGE TAX REFUND” sign. Since it’s the taxpayer (YOU) that is ultimately responsible for all the information on your tax return, promises of huge tax refunds are sometimes too good to be true. Here are some tips to help you avoid scams.  

1. IRS representatives do not initiate taxpayer communication by going go door-to-door or sending emails. If someone knocks on your door or sends you an email claiming to be a helpful representative from the IRS, do not give them your Social Security Number or any private financial information.  
2. You must provide proof of eligibility for any tax credits you are going to claim. Some preparers claim that if you pay them a fee, they will get you these credits without proof – they can’t.
3. The Economic Recovery Credit Program, Making Work Pay, and the Recovery Rebate Credit are EXPIRED programs – anyone that says they will get you these credits is trying to pull a fast one.

Larissa

“It’s never a waste of money to invest in someone’s human potential.” Those are the words of Brandy Chance, a Social Studies teacher at the Florence Crittenton School for pregnant and parenting teens in Colorado. She knows firsthand just how much potential is in the young women that attend FloCrit. If only more schools invested in that potential instead of discriminating against pregnant and parenting students. According to NWLC’s report, 64% of states lack anti-discrimination laws, regulations, or guidelines that would protect these students. 

On this week’s episode of High School Moms, we met two incredibly strong young moms who are wise beyond their teenage years. First we met 16-year-old Larissa. She has a 1-year-old son and gave birth to her second son during the episode. Much of the show focused on Larissa’s delivery. She went into labor sooner than expected and to say she was overwhelmed would be an understatement. Through tears, Larissa expressed her fear that she wasn’t prepared to have another baby. I was incredibly impressed by her maturity throughout the episode. She obviously has spent a lot of time reflecting on her situation and noted that “having a baby at a young age can either make you or it breaks you.” She is determined not to let it break her and the support she receives from the staff at Florence Crittenton will certainly help make that a reality.