Tax Scams

Identity thieves come up with new tax scams each year, pretending to be from the IRS, tax companies, or state revenue departments.

COVID-19

Fraudsters are using emails, texts, letters, and phone calls to try to steal Economic Impact Payments. Report these to the National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866.720.5721.

Gift Cards

You can’t use gift cards to make tax payments, so don’t fall for scammers requesting them for a payment by phone, email, text, or social media.

Email

Scammers use emails every year to request updated account and personal information for refunds or payments.

Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP)

Phony TAP representatives send fake tax refund emails to get personal and financial information.

Tax Professionals

Emails that look like they are from clients or the IRS are being used to try to get clients’ personal information from tax professionals.

Ransomware Scam

An email with the FBI and IRS logos has a link to a fake FBI questionnaire, which actually downloads ransomware and blocks you from accessing your device.

Federal Student Tax

Thieves use a fake federal student tax to try to get students and parents to wire money immediately. Then they threaten to contact the police if they don’t.

Remember, the IRS will never:

• Call and demand immediate payment.
• Threaten to have a taxpayer arrested or deported.
• Request a specific payment method, like a gift card.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
• Call about an unexpected refund.
• Revoke your license.