Check out our November edition!
November 2022
HANSON HEADLINES
CraigHansonCPA.com • (701) 252-6190
Don’t Fall For These Tax Scams!
3 Schemes to Look Out For
Unemployment Fraud Because of the pandemic, many people lost their jobs and received unemployment checks from the state. Scammers filed fraudulent claims for unemployment by using stolen personal information from people who didn’t file claims. Taxpayers should be on the lookout for Form 1099-G, which reports unemployment compensation. If you received this form and didn’t file a claim, you are a victim of identity theft. The IRS recommends you contact your state agency or tax specialist for the correct form and other solutions so you can file your taxes on time next year.
name, web address, and mailing address so you can research them before contributing any money. 3. Spear Phishing Email Scams A recent IRS spear phishing scam concerns an email from what appears to be the IRS with a “subject” similar to “Action Required: Your account has now been put on hold.” This alone will cause fear in taxpayers and may cause them to open the email, click on the link, and submit their credentials. It’s crucial to remember that the IRS will not contact you by email, text, or phone. If they need to inform you about your account, they will send you a letter in the mail. If you have concerns about your taxes, a letter you received from the IRS, or anything regarding taxes, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I have resources and hotlines I can use to check if the information you received is authentic and factual. It breaks my heart to see hardworking individuals’ identities or money taken because of scammers. I will
Recently, a scammer called my personal telephone line to inform me that something was wrong with my Microsoft account and that I needed to submit my personal information to secure my account. At first, I felt my stomach drop, and I felt the lingering feelings of panic try to surface. But after thinking about it, I realized that the number didn’t have a caller ID and that if this were about my computer software, Microsoft would call my business telephone line and not my personal telephone line. That’s when the lightbulb went off, and I realized I was being scammed. I’m sure you’ve experienced the fear and stress of a scammer contacting you and attempting to steal your information. It’s easy to be caught up in the moment and panic, but that’s what scammers want you to do. It used to be easy to spot scams, but today, they’ve gotten clever at making their calls or messages seem authentic. Although I was lucky not to fall for a scammer’s phishing scheme, thousands of people fall for these scams daily. So, in honor of International Fraud Awareness Week being Nov. 13-19, I wanted to share some of the newest IRS scams you should be aware of.
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2. Fake Charities
People often give back during the holiday season by donating to charities. Taxpayers who donate money or goods to a charity can get a deduction on their federal tax return. But you must contribute to a qualified charity to receive a deduction. Since the pandemic, thousands of fake charities have been created. To ensure you’re donating to an actual charity, take note of how they ask you to donate. If they request that you pay them by giving them a gift card or by wiring money, it’s a scam. Ask for the charity’s exact
do everything in my power to ensure your information is protected. So please, call me today if you have any questions or concerns. –Craig Hanson
Have tax problems? Unsure what to do? Our Free video reveals what you should and should NOT do when you receive the dreaded letter from the IRS. CraigHansonCPATaxResolution.com
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IMPROVE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE By Being Entertaining and Personable
bulk of your content isn’t about your products or what you sell. People are more apt to become customers if they feel invested in and entertained by your content. The best social media accounts make sure that 75%–80% of their content is entertaining, light, and personable, while the remaining 20%–25% is dedicated to the business. Another great way to attract like-minded clients is by being real and letting people see a little bit of who you really are. Be genuine, not what you think people want to see from you or your business. You should also keep the platforms you use to promote your business and its products. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are all extremely popular, and every business should utilize these platforms. Instagram is necessary if you have a younger customer base, and Pinterest should be used for any companies that work in the creative world, such as interior designers. Even TikTok, when appropriately used, can help bring in more business. Crossposting is a great practice for many companies, but be aware that what’s popular on one platform may not see the same success on another. It’s important to remember that there’s only so much you can control when it comes to social media engagement. Sometimes the content that takes minutes to produce does better than the content you spent days or weeks on. Keep trying and have fun with it. You’ll notice a boost in business before long.
Nearly every business has at least one social media account. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram are all great ways to reach and connect with your client base, but not everyone knows how to maximize the effectiveness of these tools. That’s unfortunate because when social media is used properly for business purposes, it can really help with marketing. In fact, if you use these accounts to promote your business and offer solutions to your customers (instead of just addressing negative reviews), you could see a massive boost in business. While social media is great for communicating with clients, it’s also an excellent avenue where potential customers can find you. To reach new people, you’ll need engaging and interesting content. You might think that means creating memes or whatever is trending at the moment, but the best way to create a strong social media presence is actually by adding a personal touch. If you only use your social media account to push your products and sell, you won’t get much from it. It’s important to remember that the average person turns to social media for entertainment — so your social media presence should be entertaining. A great way to do that is by adding a little personality. Tell people stories from your life and share things that are going on with you. Even though you might think your life is boring, that’s rarely the case. To maximize your content, connect these stories back to your work. Just make sure the
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ADD MORE LIFE TO YOUR WORK-LIFE BALANCE With These 3 Tips
HAVE A Laugh Set boundaries. After you clock out for the day, it can be easy to get dragged back in if you get a text or email relating to your job. That’s why it’s important to set boundaries for yourself. Once you reach a certain time in the day, turn off your work phone or email. Set an alarm for yourself for a time when your work day comes to a close — and put everything away so you can focus on your home life. Establish a workspace. Our environment can play a large role in how we feel each day. If you haven’t established a workspace in your home, you One of the biggest concerns employers have with remote work revolves around employees finding distractions at home that will take their attention away from job duties. While this is certainly true for some remote workers, it doesn’t apply to everyone. Certain individuals will even be drawn back into work at home when they’re supposed to be spending time with their family or doing hobbies they enjoy. In fact, when remote workers don’t unplug from their work, they are much more likely to burn out. If you or your employees are currently working remotely, it’s important to establish a proper work-life balance. Here are three ways to include more personal time in your daily routine.
might struggle to separate work from home life. Think about it; if you work from your living room, you will probably find it more difficult to relax there later in the evening. You don’t have to turn an entire room into an office, but dedicating a corner as your workspace will come with benefits. Wear work attire. What we wear has an effect on how we feel. If you’re wearing sweatpants while you work, it can be difficult to unwind when you’re off the clock and wearing the same clothes. Switch it up and wear professional attire while you’re working. When the workday comes to a close, you can shed your work clothes for something comfier, which will help you relax and focus on what’s going on at home.
WAR CHIEF FORGED BY WORLD WAR II Joseph Medicine Crow — The Hero We Need
In the North American Crow tribe, members must complete four challenges to earn the title of war chief. These tasks include … 1. Leading a successful war party on a raid 2. Capturing an enemy’s weapon 3. Touching an enemy without killing them 4. Stealing an enemy’s horse Each of these tasks requires skill, courage, and strategic thinking to complete — and during World War II, a tribesman named Private Joseph Medicine Crow mastered all of them.
Medicine Crow enlisted in the 103rd Infantry Division and “was recognized for leading a war party that, under fire, retrieved dynamite to use to attack German guns. He also overcame a German soldier in hand-to-hand combat on a street in France (sparing his life), and captured 50 SS horses at a farm where German officers were staying,” according to World Wisdom.
In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded Joseph Medicine Crow the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
905 James Ave. NE • Jamestown, ND 58401 (701) 252-6190 • CraigHansonCPA.com Inside This Edition
Have tax problems? Unsure what to do? Free video reveals what you should and should NOT do when you receive the dreaded letter from the IRS. CraigHansonCPATaxResolution.com
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Don’t Fall For These Tax Scams!
Improve Your Company’s Social Media Presence
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3 Ways to Improve Your Work-Life Balance
This War Chief Is Practically Hercules
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3 Selling Strategies Customers Hate
OR YOUR POTENTIAL CLIENTS WILL AVOID YOUR BUSINESS 3 SELLING STRATEGIES TO AVOID
this is by offering a free trial so your customers can experience the product for themselves with no strings attached. They’ll know exactly what they’re buying, and you’ll be there to answer their questions and explain all the features and benefits without having to overpromise. Arguing With Customers Sometimes customers will respond to your product or service with unrealistic or unreasonable objections. Stay silent or ask questions to further understand where they’re coming from because if you start arguing with a customer, you will lose the sale.
service, there’s a good chance they’re trying to find a solution to a particular problem. Many salespeople make the mistake of explaining the bells and whistles of their product or service instead of listening to the customer’s main concerns. When you can provide a solution to the customer’s problem, you will be much closer to making a sale. Overpromising and Underdelivering Plenty of salespeople like to promise the world to their customers but
Have you ever walked into a business, talked to a salesperson, and left annoyed or angry? You may have even claimed that you would never return to the business again. It’s a situation that happens fairly often and proves certain sales strategies just don’t work. It’s important for business owners and salespeople to be aware of these strategies so they can avoid using them and upsetting their customers. You want your customers to enjoy working with your business so they return or refer people to you. If you’re using the wrong strategy, you’ll miss out on referrals and repeat customers. Here are a few selling strategies to avoid in your business. Failing to Focus on the Customer’s Main Problem When a customer steps into your business to purchase a product or
there’s a limit to what they can actually offer. When salespeople overpromise, they are
essentially lying, and it will come back to bite them. Customers don’t like being lied to and will be quick to share their experiences with others. A great way to avoid
There’s no foolproof way to sell to everyone, but by avoiding the above selling strategies, you will have a better chance of closing more sales.
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