Taxes

Watch Out for These 6 Tax Season Scams

AS THE APRIL filing deadline approaches, scammers are increasingly on the hunt for your personal information. Here are six of the most common scams to watch out for, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Phishing:

Con artists use unsolicited email and fake websites to lure potential victims into divulging personal information. Be leery of unexpected emails from the IRS promising refunds or threatening to collect — the IRS does not contact taxpayers via email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Report suspicious activity to phishing@irs.gov.

Verification Requests:

Don’t be fooled by scammers asking you to “verify” your W-2 or personal information. Some may ask you to upload a picture of your forms. The only time that the IRS would request ID verification would be if they were concerned about a suspicious tax return with a real taxpayer’s name and/or Social Security number. If that’s the case, they would generally send a Letter 5071C (check the upper corner for the number) in the mail and ask you to verify your identity using the Identity Verification Service.

Phone scams:

Scammers impersonating IRS agents may make aggressive or threatening calls demanding money or offering a refund. Sometimes they even alter their caller ID information to appear they're calling from an IRS office. But that's not how the IRS does business — the first IRS contact with taxpayers is usually via mail.

Inflated refund claims: 

Beware of tax preparers who ask you to sign a blank check, promise big refunds before looking at your records or charge fees based on a percentage of your refund. They may use fliers, phony storefronts and sometimes infiltrate community groups and churches. These scammers may file a false return in your name and take your refund. The IRS offers tips for choosing a preparer.

Fake charities: 

After disasters, it's common for scammers to impersonate charities. These groups often have names similar to legitimate organizations and often pop up after natural disasters. Don't give out personal financial information or Social Security numbers. And don't give or send cash. This IRS search feature allows you to look up legitimate charities.

False tax returns: 

One of the most common tax scams is usually the result of identity theft that involves filing tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers. Protect your personal data; check your credit report at least annually, and review your Social Security Administration earnings statement each year to help make sure you haven't been targeted.


Don’t make yourself an easy target. Avoid leaving important paperwork and W-2s in unsecured places, such as offices, common living areas, vehicles and unlocked mailboxes. And use enhanced logon methods, such as biometrics and CyberCode Tokens to prevent hackers from obtaining important tax information.