By With the 2025 tax filing season quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time for bad actors to start targeting taxpayers simply looking to get the to-do out of the way and receive their refund. Anyone can fall prey to scams, as even the savviest among us aren’t immune when those who perpetrate them play to our fears and insecurities. Keep reading to learn more about common tax scams, plus tips for keeping your money—and your personal information—safe.
IRS Impersonator Scams
‘IRS Agent’ Phone Call
The phone rings. When you answer, a voice on the other end says something like: “This is Agent Smith with the IRS. You owe $1,000.” This worrying greeting is followed by increasingly aggressive demands to wire the funds or face immediate arrest or deportation. Other times, they’ll demand your debit card information. Here’s the thing: Real IRS agents don’t call out of the blue and demand immediate payment — and they certainly do not threaten people over the phone.
IRS Payment Text
While the phone call attempt can be intimidating, this particular scheme is done to make you think you are actually owed money. In the reported scam, people receive a text message that appears to be coming from the IRS. It says that the recipient is eligible to receive a $1,400 Economic Impact Payment.
How do you allegedly get the money? By providing your accurate personal information via the included link. The “IRS” then claims it will deposit the amount into your bank account or mail a paper check within 1 to 2 business days. As a Reddit thread discussing the scam points out, the sender is usually someone with a clearly fake (and often ridiculous) email address.
Once you open the suspicious link, it could lead to malware or any personal/financial information you provide will be compromised.
‘IRS’ Phisher-Men
Text messages aren’t the only way bad actors will pose as the agency. Phishing scams also commonly use email to try to steal personal information. One popular ploy is to send emails purportedly from the IRS claiming that you’re due a refund or owe money. Then they’ll demand or request that you send your Social Security number or other private information to resolve the issue.
Other Impersonators During Tax Season
Scammers Pretending To Be You
A criminal who has your Social Security number can file a false return in your name and collect a fraudulent refund. This is known as tax identity theft. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “People often discover tax identity theft when they file their annual tax returns.”
If you filed your return by mail, the IRS will mail you a letter sharing that they received more than one return in your name and will provide further instructions to clear up the issue. When this happens after you try to submit your tax return online or through a tax preparer, it will be rejected as a duplicate filing.
You should then visit IdentityTheft.gov and report the theft using as many details about your situation as possible.
Scammers Pretending To Be a Real Charity
Since charitable contributions can be claimed on tax forms if you itemize your deductions, the last thing you want is to discover an organization you donated to isn’t even legitimate. The IRS shares that “scammers frequently use names that sound like well-known charities to confuse people. Fake charity promoters may use emails, fake websites, or alter or ‘spoof’ their caller ID to make it look like a real charity is calling to solicit donations.”
Some of these scam charities will ask for donations from gift cards or wiring money. Others will request bank information, credit card information or personal information that they can steal.
Scammers Pretending To Be Real Tax Preparers
These criminals often attract victims by promising inflated refunds.. They may even try to charge fees for their so-called “services.” As the experts at LifeLock by Norton share, “They prey on the taxpayer’s lack of knowledge about tax laws and the genuine complexity of the tax system.”
The fraudulent tax preparers disappear with your personal information and your money. Even more bad news? There can be legal troubles if false information is filed in your name.
Other common tax season scams
The Tax Shelter Promise
Some fraudsters tempt you with this lie: Invest your money with them, and you won’t pay taxes on the money — or the earnings. This is an illegal investment that not only delivers what it promises, but can have some serious legal ramifications too.
‘Opportunities’ Offshore
Bad actors might appeal to your vanity, suggesting that you’ve got enough money to merit moving some of it offshore to protect it from the IRS. Fall for it, and you may never see that money again.
How to protect yourself from tax scams
With so many scams floating around during tax season, staying vigilant can ensure you don’t fall victim to any of the traps. To protect your personal and financial information, follow these tips:
- Share your Social Security number only if necessary. This will help prevent identity theft that can cause issues come tax filing time.
- Avoid clicking on links. Ignore links sent from scammers claiming to be from the IRS, as the agency will never contact you for information via email or text.
- Verify charities. Check the IRS website to see if the organization is a qualified tax-exempt organization. If it’s not, keep your money in your pocket.
- Do research on tax preparers. Ask those you trust to recommend tax preparers, or search the IRS’s Federal Tax Return Preparer directory. Before you hire anyone, ask for referrals and check them carefully.
- Practice due diligence with investments. Don’t invest with a company you have never heard of, or in any product you don’t understand. If in doubt, get an independent opinion on any investments you’re considering.
- Report scammers. Share information about potential scammers with the Federal Trade Commission. You can find them here.
