Which Tax Scam Are You Likely to Encounter?

Last updated on February 26, 2023

Taxpayers across the country battle various kinds of tax scams, including tax preparer fraud, scams by fake charitable organizations, identity thieves, etc. The most common tax scam this year is identity theft, which is often conducted by sending emails or making telephone calls. If you receive an unsolicited email probably stating that it is from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs.gov because it is an attempt at phishing to steal your tax, financial and/or personal information.

The IRS does not initiate communication with taxpayers through email. As it is simple for anyone to send out emails to random people, millions of taxpayers every year receive emails from scammers posing as banks, the IRS and other reputable institutions.

Along with fake emails, you may also expect to receive phone calls from scammers. They usually pretend to be from the IRS, a law enforcement agency, or a financial institution. If you are unsure about whether the caller is from a reputable institution or from scammers, postpone sharing important information such as your Social Security Number, tax filing status, date of birth, Personal Identification Numbers, Credit Card number, etc. You can buy time to check whether the caller was authentic or not.

Keep your tax information at a safe place in your house, and be cautious before sharing it with others.