News

With Tax Day (April 15, 2019) less than two weeks away, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s (TDCI) Division of Consumer Affairs and the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy is offering Tennesseans the following tips to help navigate the income tax filing process, make the most of their income tax refund and avoid fraudulent tax preparers and scammers.1.     Get your refund fast through direct deposit. Did you know that your income tax refund can be electronically deposited into your financial account for free? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can automatically deposit your refund into up to three separate accounts, if you set up direct deposit when you file your return. Direct deposit gives you access to your refund faster than a paper check.
2.     File your tax return for free. If your income is $54,000 or less, if you are 60 years old or older, or if you have a disability or speak limited English, you can generally get free tax return preparation assistance at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) location near you. In addition to VITA, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those 60 and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.
If you decide to do it yourself:

If your adjusted gross income is $66,000 or less, you can use any one of several major tax return preparation software products, offered through the Free File Alliance, to prepare and file your return for free. The Free File Alliance is a nonprofit coalition of industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the IRS to help taxpayers prepare and e-file their federal tax returns for free. If your adjusted gross income is more than $66,000, you can still download free tax filing forms from the IRS’s website.                                                                                          

There are many easy-to-use tax return preparation software products on the market that will help you walk through the tax return filing process step-by-step. These are not free, but they may be less expensive than paying someone to file your return for you.                                                          

Tip: Depending on your age, income and filing status, you may not be required to file a return. Check the IRS’s guidelines to see if you are required to file a tax return.         
3. Beware of potential tax fraud. While the majority of tax preparers are honest, tax fraud does occur. Unfortunately, the IRS reports that tax fraud has become increasingly common, but there are several steps consumers can take to protect themselves:

File electronically and request that your refund be deposited directly into your account.  Direct deposit avoids the possibility that your check could be stolen. However, beware of this new twist on a scam involving erroneous tax refund deposits.

Vet your Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Check to ensure your CPA is properly licensed by visiting verify.tn.gov. If you have questions, contact the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy.

Stay alert for scam phone calls from criminals intent on stealing your money or your identity. Remember, the IRS will never:

Call or email you to verify your identity by asking for personal and financial information.    

Demand immediate payment via a prepaid gift card or wire transfer without first sending you a bill in the mail and giving you an opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

Require you to use a specific payment method for taxes, like a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.

Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or email.

Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of identity theft involving your income tax return, report it to the IRS. Imposter scams and identity theft are among the leading complaints of Tennesseans, according to a new report by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Consumers can find more detailed information about tax refund scams, by visiting the IRS website.
For more consumer tips and resources, visit www.tn.gov/consumer. 
 

A pursuit of persons wanted for questioning in connection with an armed robbery in a room of a McMinnville motel lead to a multi-agency takedown in front of Woodbury Town Hall yesterday. 
Tuesday morning the patrol officers of the McMinnville Police Department were dispatched the Best Value Inn on an armed robbery call.  A vehicle description was given out as one of the parties involved.  Sgt Austin Wortman spotted a Chevy truck on Hwy 55 and tried to initiate a traffic stop.  The vehicle stopped momentarily and then fled.  The truck went out into the county and came back onto Nashville Highway and proceeded toward Woodbury.
 
The Warren County Sheriff’s Department assisted along with Tennessee Highway Patrol on the pursuit into Cannon County.  Once in Cannon County, members of the Sheriff’s Department and Woodbury Police assisted. Arrested in Woodbury was Nicholas Flores, age 20. There was also two juvenile females in the vehicle that were on runaway status out of the Chattanooga area.
 
Deputies with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department made a traffic stop on Rebel Hill Street later in the afternoon that had occupants that were present at the armed robbery.  Two of the three occupants have been charged with armed robbery.  They have been identified as Rafael Lopez age 24 and Leo Garcia age 26. Nicholas Flores has also been charged with evading arrest and multiple counts of reckless endangerment based on the pursuit. 
 

Your eyes are on the road and your hands are on the wheel, but are you still distracted? 
Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that potentially unsafe mental distractions can persist for as long as 27 seconds after drivers use voice-based technology to dial, change music or send a text message. At 25 mph, drivers travel the length of nearly three football fields during this time. AAA urges drivers to put down their phone and avoid distractions when behind the wheel, especially now during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
 
“Most drivers believe that if their eyes are on the road and their hands are on the wheel, then they are focused on the drive,” said Stephanie Milani, Tennessee Public Affairs Director, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “But research proves that there are hidden dangers when using a cell phone or in-vehicle technology. Mental distractions last longer than you think and can cause a dangerous crash.”
 
Additional research also shows drivers talking on a cellphone are up to four times as likely to crash while those who text are up to eight times as likely to be involved in a crash. Despite the risk, drivers increasingly report using technology behind the wheel. Nearly half (49 percent) of drivers report recently talking on a hand-held phone while driving and nearly 35 percent have sent a text or email.
 
This behavior is in contradiction to the fact that nearly 58 percent of drivers say talking on a cellphone behind the wheel is a very serious threat to their personal safety, while 78 percent believe that texting is a significant danger.
 
“We have created a do as I say, not as I do culture on our roadways. Drivers understand the risk, they just don’t think they are the problem,” added Milani. “With more than 3,400 people killed in distracted driving crashes each year, it is time for drivers to be accountable. We can save lives”
 
AAA is committed to helping drivers curb the urge to engage in distracting behaviors behind the wheel. Any task that requires taking your eyes or attention off-the-road and hands off-the-wheel can present a dangerous risk on the roadway. That includes changing the radio, programming navigation or even enjoying a sandwich. In order to avoid distraction, AAA recommends:
 

Put aside Distractions. Never use text messaging, email, video games or internet functions, including those built into the vehicle, while driving.

Know where you’re going: Pre-program your GPS and adjust seats, mirrors, climate controls and sound systems before putting the car in motion.

Secure Items: Properly secure children and pets and store loose possessions and other items that could roll around in the car.

Snack Smart: Avoid messy foods that can be difficult to manage.

 
To learn more about the AAA Foundation’s research on how vehicle manufacturer’s in-vehicle technology, including Apple CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto systems, can create dangerous distractions for drivers behind the wheel, visit AAA.com/distraction.
 

The unemployment rate for each of Tennessee’s counties improved in February according to new information released Thursday by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. 
Eighty of Tennessee’s 95 counties have an unemployment rate less than 5 percent, a marked improvement from January’s jobless numbers. 
 
With a rate of 5.9 percent, Lake County has the state’s highest rate of unemployment for February. The latest statistic represents a decrease of 3.4 percentage points from the previous month’s rate.
 
Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate reached an all-time low of 3.2 percent in February. That figure bested the previous record low of 3.3 percent, which was the state’s unemployment rate between October and January.
 
Cannon County 6,510 persons eligible to work, 6,340 were working.   170 persons were not working or 2.7 percent.  In January the rate was 3.0 percent or a -0.3 improvement.  The average unemployment for the counties adjouring Cannon was 3.1.  DeKalb had the highest rate of 4.0 and Rutherford with the lowest at 2.3 percent.
 
Nationally, unemployment dropped to 3.8 percent, a 0.2 of a percentage point decrease from January’s revised rate of 4 percent.
 
Tennesseans searching for new or better employment opportunities can access more than 150,000 current job openings, as well as other job search tools on the state’s workforce development website, Jobs4TN.gov.
 

The Cannon County School District enjoyed a successful Spring 2019 Pre K and Kindergarten screening/registration for the 2019-2020 School Year. The event was held at the Cannon County Board of Education Central Office on Tuesday, March 26th and Thursday, March 28th.  Ninety-one (91) families participated in the process to ready their child to participate in either one of the four Cannon County Schools Volunteer Pre K classrooms or begin Kindergarten at one of our Cannon County Elementary Schools in Fall 2019.  During the screening process, each child had their hearing, vision, language, motor skills, and Pre K or Kindergarten skills screened.  
Any families who missed the screening/registration should follow the below procedures:
 
For Pre K students, come by the Board of Education at 301 West Main Street to see Kathy Mullins, Pre K Director, in order to fill out an application.  Be sure to bring with you proof of residence, official copy of birth certificate, immunization record with proof of physical, social security card, and verification of income. 
 
Students entering Kindergarten will need to go to their school of zone to register. 
 
According to Director Curtis, “We are looking forward to each child’s journey in Cannon County’s educational system.”
 
 

The Cannon County School District enjoyed a successful Spring 2019 Pre K and Kindergarten screening/registration for the 2019-2020 School Year. The event was held at the Cannon County Board of Education Central Office on Tuesday, March 26th and Thursday, March 28th.  Ninety-one (91) families participated in the process to ready their child to participate in either one of the four Cannon County Schools Volunteer Pre K classrooms or begin Kindergarten at one of our Cannon County Elementary Schools in Fall 2019.  During the screening process, each child had their hearing, vision, language, motor skills, and Pre K or Kindergarten skills screened.  
Any families who missed the screening/registration should follow the below procedures:
 
For Pre K students, come by the Board of Education at 301 West Main Street to see Kathy Mullins, Pre K Director, in order to fill out an application.  Be sure to bring with you proof of residence, official copy of birth certificate, immunization record with proof of physical, social security card, and verification of income. 
 
Students entering Kindergarten will need to go to their school of zone to register. 
 
According to Director Curtis, “We are looking forward to each child’s journey in Cannon County’s educational system.”
 
 

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) is advising Tennessee consumers to be wary of callers purporting to represent the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in light of recent warnings from both agencies about nationwide telephone impersonation scams. 
Both agencies separately said they are currently investigating reports of individuals fraudulently claiming to represent the respective agencies in order to acquire consumers’ sensitive personal information, such as their Social Security numbers or banking information. The callers are using Caller ID cloaking technology to “spoof” the agencies’ legitimate numbers in order to make it appear as if the caller was an actual representative of the agency.
 
“As fraudulent phone calls have become more common, scammers have adapted their tactics in order to trick unsuspecting consumers into answering their phones,” said TDCI Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak. “While a threatening call from what appears to be the government is undoubtedly scary, consumers should always remain calm and remember that scammers often use emotion-provoking tactics to get your information and money. If you’re called by a scammer, don’t give out your personal information, immediately hang up and report the call.”
 
Scammers have used technology to increase the sophistication of their attacks. They have turned to “spoofing” phone numbers of people you may know, government agencies, or even your own phone number. Spoofing is when a caller intentionally falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID to disguise their identity. To prevent falling victim of a scam, many consumers simply don’t answer the phone and review any voice mail messages to determine if a return call is appropriate.
 
While both scams are similar, there was no indication from either agency that the scams were related. To help Tennesseans avoid falling victim to either scam, TDCI shares the following information from both agencies and their Offices of Inspectors General (OIG):
 

The DHS scammers are falsely claiming they represent “U.S. Immigration” or other government entities. By altering Caller ID systems, they make it appear that the call is coming from the DHS HQ Operator number (202-282-8000) or the DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) number (202-401-1474). These scammers have frequently threatened victims with arrest unless they make payments to the scammers using a variety of methods. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this telephone spoofing scam is urged to call the DHS OIG Hotline (1-800-323-8603) or file a complaint online via the DHS OIG website www.oig.dhs.gov.

The SSA says its employees do occasionally contact people – generally those who have ongoing business with the agency – by telephone for business purposes. However, the SSA says its employees will never call and threaten to suspend a person’s benefits or promise to give benefit approval, or increase benefits, in exchange for the consumer’s personal information. The SSA says scammers are using technology to make it appear as if they were calling from the SSA’s national customer service number: 1 (800) 772-1213. If a person receives these calls from a scammer, he or she should hang up and report the information to the SSA’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.

TIORA ANELLA GOWERENDANGERED CHILD ALERT
Missing:  March 26, 2019
Age Missing: 8
A Middle Tennessee Endangered Child Alert has been issued for 8 year-old Tiora Anella Gower. Tiora was last seen with her mother on March 26, 2019 in Davidson County, Tennessee. She is a white female, 4’10” tall and weighs 130 lbs. She has blonde hair and brown eyes. Tiora and her mother may be in the area of Dickerson Road or Brick Church Pike in Nashville, Tennessee.
If you have seen Tiora, please contact the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office at 615-563-4322 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
 

Over 100 newly certified officers graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy (TLETA) yesterday.  One of the graduates is an employee of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Office. 
Kreed Curtis was one of the one hundred who walked the line yesterday. Curtis started as a correction officer one year ago and become an officer in September of last year according to Sheriff Darryl Young.
 
Lincoln County Sheriff Murray Blackwelder was the guest speaker for the graduation.
 
Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy’s Basic Police School course provides technical and tactical expertise in addition to the ethical and professional standards needed to be a successful law enforcement officer. The newly certified officers have joined thousands of law enforcement officers who have studied at the Academy during its more than 50-year existence.
 
In addition to Cannon County’s Sheriff’s Office, graduates of Basic Police School Class 1859 will serve the police departments, sheriffs’ offices, and state agencies in our area including Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee State Parks, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tullahoma and Wilson County.
 
For more information about the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, visit our website.
 

Commodity loans are currently available for producers of corn, wheat, and soybeans. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements before receiving these USDA benefits. To be eligible, a producer must maintain continual beneficial interest in the crop from harvest through the earlier of the date the loan is repaid or Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) takes title to the commodity. Beneficial interest means retaining the ability to make decisions about the commodity; responsibility for loss or damage to the commodity; and title to the commodity. Once beneficial interest in a commodity is lost, the commodity is ineligible for loan – even if the producer regains beneficial interest. 
 
These loans provide producers with immediate financing on their stored commodities held as loan collateral. Instead of selling the crop immediately after harvest, these loans allow the producer to store the crop for a maximum of 9 months to allow for market gains in the event of a depressed market at the time of harvest. Applicants should allow 3-4 workdays for processing and disbursing the loan proceeds.
 
Loans can be approved beginning at harvest and until March 31 for wheat and, until May 31 for corn and soybeans. The 2018 crop year commodity loans rates for DeKalb and Cannon Counties are as follows:
 
                            Corn—$2.06 / bu.                  Soybeans—$5.16/ bu.            Wheat—$3.04/ bu.
 
For March 2019, the CCC interest rate for marketing assistance loans is 3.625%.
 
Violating provisions of a marketing assistance loan may trigger administrative actions, such as assessing liquidated damages, calling the loan and denial of future farm-stored loans.
 
For more information, call the DeKalb/Cannon County Farm Service Agency at 615-597-8225, extension 2.