SMART HR News You Can Use

Mileage Rates for 2021

The mileage rates for 2021 according to the IRS for vehicle use are as follows:

• 56 cents allocated per mile on vehicles used for business purposes. This represents a drop of 1.5 cents from last year’s rate.
• 16 cents per mile for moving and medical services. That’s a drop of 1 cent from the 2020 rate.

14 cents per mile for those using their vehicles for charitable organizations. That’s the same as the the rate in 2020.

 

IRS Warns People About a COVID-related Text Message Scam

The IRS and its Security Summit partners are warning people to be aware of a new text message scam. The thief’s goal is to trick people into revealing bank account information under the guise of receiving the $1,200 Economic Impact Payment.

Here’s how this scam works
People get a text message saying they have “received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 TREAS FUND. Further action is required to accept this payment… Continue here to accept this payment …" The text includes a link to a phishing web address.
This fake link appears to come from a state agency or relief organization. It takes people to a fake website that looks like the IRS.gov Get My Payment website. If people visit the fake website and enter their personal and financial account information, the scammers collect it.

Here’s what people should do if they receive this message 
Anyone who receives this scam text should take a screenshot and include the screenshot in an email to phishing@irs.gov with the following information:

• Date/time/time zone that they received the text message
• The phone number that received the text message

The IRS doesn’t send unsolicited texts or emails. The agency will never demand immediate payment using a gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer or threaten to have a taxpayer arrested.

IRS Tax Tips--- December 8, 2020
Issue Number: COVID Tax Tip 2020-167