TAX TIME: Consumer Alert from the MA Office of Consumer Affairs

I just received this email that is entiitled "Consumer Alert from the MA Office of Consumer Affairs" It has to do with your tax refund.

I found it interesting and feel that may benefit some of our readers, so I have copied that email here, in full. As you read through the Alert, you will see a reference to an Advisory, that has been issued by Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. For your convenience I have copied that Advisory to a folder at Annex Real Estate School, so you can easily access it. The link to that, as well as to an Adobe Reader (if you need it), are at the bottom of this posting.

But, please read the message from Dane Crane, first.

Email from Dan Crane, Undersecretary of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation:

"Dear Massachusetts resident,

My name is Dan Crane, and I am the Undersecretary of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

I would like to highlight an issue that is very timely. As tax season is upon us, the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation advises Massachusetts consumers to be wary of tax refund loans, also known as refund anticipation loans (RALs). RALS are secured by and paid from your pending federal or state tax refund. Many tax preparers advertise them as an easy alternative to waiting for your refund check.

Instead of paying the high fees and interest that are associated with refund anticipation loans, there are alternatives for consumers to quickly access their tax refunds. The attached advisory details the resources available to help consumers obtain the money that is due to them. The advisory is in PDF format so you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the file. If you already have Acrobat Reader you will be able to open the newsletter without any problems. If you do not have it, you can go to the link below and download it. There is no fee associated with downloading Acrobat Reader.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Since one of the objectives of the office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation is to provide information so that consumers can make educated and informed choices, this consumer advisory is the first that we will send you periodically to address important and timely issues as they develop.

Please check our website frequently for consumer advisories on other topics that may be of interest to you.

Thank you."

Click to get a copy of the Advisory of the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

Click here to download an Adobe Reader.