IRS Fraud Alert

Pay the Tax, Then Get the Prize. The caller says you've won a prize, and all you have to do to get it is to pay the income tax due. Don't believe it. Someone who really wins a prize may need to make an estimated tax payment to cover the taxes that will be due at the end of the year. But the payment goes to the IRS-not the caller. Whether the prize is cash, a car or a trip, a legitimate prize giver generally sends both the winner and the IRS a Form 1099 showing the total prize value that should be reported on the winners tax return.