{"id":35629,"date":"2017-11-29T23:00:37","date_gmt":"2017-11-30T04:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tjbdeals.com\/?p=35629"},"modified":"2026-08-16T01:09:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T05:09:17","slug":"irs-list-of-scams-to-look-out-for-the-upcoming-tax-season-all-year-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tjbdeals.com\/?p=35629","title":{"rendered":"IRS List of Scams to Look Out for the Upcoming Tax Season & All Year Round"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each year, the IRS publishes its \u201cDirty Dozen\u201d<\/b><\/span> list highlighting some of the most common scams and schemes taxpayers should watch out for. While many tax scams become more common during tax season, they can happen year-round<\/b><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the most common scams to be aware of:<\/span><\/p>\n

IRS Impersonation Phone Scams<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Scammers may call pretending to be IRS agents. They may provide a fake IRS identification number, know some of your personal information, and sound surprisingly convincing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The caller will typically claim that you owe the IRS money and demand immediate payment, sometimes through unusual methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. They may threaten you with arrest, deportation, license suspension, or other consequences<\/b><\/span> if you don\u2019t pay immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember:<\/b> The IRS will not call and demand immediate payment using a specific payment method or threaten to have you arrested for refusing to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you receive a suspicious call, don\u2019t provide any personal or financial information. Hang up and contact the IRS directly using the contact information on IRS.gov.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Phishing & Email Scams<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Phishing scams use fake emails, text messages, websites, or social media messages to trick you into providing personal or financial information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Never click suspicious links or open attachments from senders you don\u2019t recognize. Scammers can create emails and websites that look extremely similar to legitimate IRS communications.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you need to visit the IRS website, it\u2019s safest to type IRS.gov<\/b><\/span> directly into your browser rather than following a link in an unexpected email or message.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax-Related Identity Theft<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone steals personal information\u2014such as your name and Social Security number\u2014and uses it to commit tax fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

One common example is a criminal filing a fraudulent tax return in your name in an attempt to claim a refund before you file your legitimate return.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protect sensitive information, especially your Social Security number, tax documents, passwords, and financial information.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The IRS also offers eligible taxpayers an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)<\/b><\/span>, a six-digit number that helps prevent someone else from filing a federal tax return using your Social Security number.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fake Charities<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Scammers may solicit donations or personal information while pretending to represent a legitimate charity. They often choose names that sound very similar to well-known charitable organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before donating, verify the organization. The IRS provides an online Tax Exempt Organization Search<\/b><\/span> that allows taxpayers to check an organization\u2019s tax-exempt status and eligibility to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tax Return Preparer Fraud<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Most tax professionals provide legitimate, high-quality services, but taxpayers should still be careful when choosing someone to prepare their returns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some scammers pose as tax professionals to steal personal information or redirect a taxpayer\u2019s refund. Others may promise unusually large refunds<\/b><\/span> by claiming deductions or credits the taxpayer isn\u2019t actually entitled to receive.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be cautious of preparers who:<\/span><\/p>\n