SALISBURY POST

Dart to the illegal tax scams that sprout up this time of year just as surely as wild garlic and crab grass.

During this filing season, the IRS is warning taxpayers to be aware of these frequent ripoffs:

• Slave reparation tax refund: Thousands of African-Americans have been misled by unscrupulous promoters who encourage taxpayers to pay them to prepare a claim for tax credits or refunds related to reparations for slavery. Tax law has no such provision, and filing such a claim can result in the taxpayer facing a $500 penalty if it isn’t rescinded.
• Secret ways to avoid paying taxes: Like all things too good to be true, these schemes aren’t true — or legal. A similar ruse now popular online is the $49.95 “Untax Yourself” packages that claim paying taxes is voluntary and you don’t have to volunteer. What’s no secret, says the IRS, is that anyone who should pay taxes and doesn’t is subject to civil and even criminal tax penalties.
• Big refunds: Refund-scheme operators ask to “borrow” your Social Security number or help you file a phony W-2 to get a bigger refund — for a fee. Generally, the taxpayer ends up paying back the refund, along with stiff penalties and interest.
• Paying the agent: Don’t open the door to anyone who claims to be an “IRS agent” collecting taxes. Actual IRS agents, field auditors and collection officers carry picture IDs and usually contact taxpayers before visiting.

To report suspected tax fraud to the IRS, call 800-829-0433.

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Laurels to signs that the arrival of spring may coincide with new growth in the local economy. The news that Freightliner has recalled approximately 280 laid-off workers is a welcome reversal from the relentless announcements of plant closings and slowdowns that have come in the past couple of years. In hindsight, the company’s elimination of its third shift 18 months ago was a signal of the depth of the downturn to come. While Freightliner officials are cautious in their near-term expectations for the turnaround, let’s home the rehiring bodes well for other businesses as well.

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Dart to tasteless commercialism that exploits historical images for financial gain. Case in point: A California company has applied for federal trademarks for the words “The Wright Brothers,” “Orville and Wilbur Wright” and all images of the aviation pioneers, including a famous photograph of the Wrights’ first powered flight in 1903.Simply by virtue of its pending application, the Roger Richman Agency in Beverly Hills, Calif., now controls most commercial uses of the Wrights’ name and images. The company represents Wright descendants, who will be the main beneficiaries of the trademark effort. From “First in Flight”to “First in Greed”?

Covered under the copyright are just about any product one could stick the Wright brothers’ names and pictures on. The list includes clothing, toys, travel bags, calendars, photographs, posters, postcards and teaching and instructional materials. The only exempt items are editorial, educational and most creative uses.