IRS Warns of Tax-Related Scams

Benjamin Franklin once wrote that nothing is certain except death and taxes. If he were around today, he’d need to update that to death, taxes and tax scams.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning that scam artists are launching their annual spring surge of illicit emails, phone calls and text messages designed to steal your money or your information. Last year alone, some 59 million Americans were duped by scammers impersonating IRS agents, other government employees or debt collectors. 

With filing season under way, the IRS is warning taxpayers to be on the lookout for the following types of fraudulent activity:

• Email Phishing Scams. Emails demanding payment of a tax bill or requesting personal or financial information are the most common scams. Tax professionals are also targeted with requests to update information on fake IRS websites.

• Text Message Scams. Messages referencing the pandemic or stimulus payments often contain bogus links to purported IRS sites. Clicking on these link can expose users to automatically downloaded malware.

• Telephone Scams. Phone calls or voice mails threatening arrest and prosecution over delinquent tax bills are almost certainly scams. Other phone scams take a softer approach and try to get you to verify personal information.

• Unemployment Fraud. Scammers may use stolen personal data to fraudulently file for unemployment benefits in your name. You likely won’t discover the identity theft until you receive a 1099-G tax form for unemployment compensation you didn’t receive.

The IRS almost always sends a physical letter in the mail, and never asks for personally identifiable information or demands payment via email or text. Visit the Report Phishing and Scams page if you receive a suspicious communication from someone posing as the IRS.