With tax season in full swing, California's top lawman has warned all Golden State filers: Keep your wits about you to avoid getting conned. Attorney General Rob Bonta, in a move to shield residents from crafty scammers, outlined a handful of safety tactics for taxpayers to adopt as they prepare to square things up with Uncle Sam and Sacramento, according to a press release from his office.

One of Bonta's primary directives is to file well before the deadline – beating the crooks to the punch can save you a big headache, not to mention your hard-earned cash. Those shifty phone calls threatening jail time for unpaid taxes? The AG's advice couldn't be clearer: Hang up. Then, inform the right folks by reporting any IRS impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and any FTB fakery on their website. "This Tax Season, we want to make sure Californians don't fall victim to tax-related fraud or scams," Bonta emphasized. Meanwhile, Bonta cautions against clicking on unsolicited emails or texts masquerading as the taxman – they're just phishing for your private info or a way to slip nasty malware onto your devices.

It's not all doom and gloom, however, as taxpayers may be able to tap into free or low-cost resources when it comes to filing. The IRS Direct File pilot program could be a real budget-saver for Californians eligible to file their federal taxes without forking over a dime. The state's own FTB CalFile program also invites qualified folks to e-file their state tax returns directly and gratis. Looking for more personalized aid? The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and its sibling service, Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), are there to lend a hand to those who make less than $64,000, have difficulties with English, or are aged 60 and up with pension puzzles to solve.

Bonta reminds everyone that an automatic tax-filing extension can be requested via IRS Free File – granting until mid-October to square things away. And when hunting for a tax preparer, make sure they're the real deal – in California, only licensed professionals like attorneys, CPAs, IRS-enrolled agents, or registered preparers are legit, reminds the AG. Are you scammed already, or do you sense something fishy? Don’t sit on it; file a complaint with Bonta’s office or the IRS. Practical pointers and scam alerts are up for grabs at the Attorney General's consumer hub, guiding Californians through the murky waters of tax season without falling prey to the ever-lurking scammer.