Image

Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams. Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, or email to set up individuals, businesses, payroll and tax professionals. 

The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Recognize the telltale signs of a scam. See also: How to know it’s really the IRS calling or knocking on your door.

Scams Targeting Taxpayers

Use tab to go to the next focusable element

Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new version of SSN scam

Scams related to natural disasters

Security Summit warns of new IRS impersonation email scam; reminds taxpayers the IRS does not send unsolicited emails

IRS reminder: Tax scams continue year-round

IRS warns of new phone scam using Taxpayer Advocate Service numbers

IRS: Don’t be victim to a ‘ghost’ tax return preparer

IRS warns of “Tax Transcript” email scam; dangers to business networks

IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scams

Scams Targeting Tax Professionals

Increasingly, tax professionals are being targeted by identity thieves. These criminals – many of them sophisticated, organized syndicates – are redoubling their efforts to gather personal data to file fraudulent federal and state income tax returns. The Security Summit has a campaign aimed at tax professionals: Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself.

IRS, Security Summit partners warn tax professionals of fake payroll direct deposit and wire transfer emails

Soliciting Form W-2 information from payroll and human resources professionals

The IRS has established a process that will allow businesses and payroll service providers to quickly report any data losses related to the W-2 scam currently making the rounds. If notified in time, the IRS can take steps to prevent employees from being victimized by identity thieves filing fraudulent returns in their names. There also is information about how to report receiving the scam email.

Report these schemes

Surge in Email, Phishing and Malware Schemes

Schemes

Fraudsters Posing as Taxpayer Advocacy Panel

Some taxpayers receive emails that appear to be from the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) about a tax refund. These emails are a phishing scam, trying to trick victims into providing personal and financial information. Do not respond or click any link. If you receive this scam, forward it to ph******@ir*.gov and note that it seems to be a scam phishing for your information.

TAP is a volunteer board that advises the IRS on systemic issues affecting taxpayers. It never requests, and does not have access to, any taxpayer’s personal and financial information.

Related Information

Other recent tax scams

How to report tax-related schemes, scams, identity theft and fraud

Additional scam-related information

IRS YouTube videos

Social Media

Comments are closed.

  • Contact Us

    • Spam blocked

    • Newsletter Keens Tax Updates

      Tax & Accounting
      * = required field

      powered by MailChimp!