Tax season is upon us, which means it’s time to pay our dues to Uncle Sam. Unfortunately, this time of year also attracts unscrupulous individuals who look to exploit this necessity, devising scams that target unsuspecting taxpayers.
In today’s digital age, these tax scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it harder to differentiate between what is legitimate and what is fraudulent. One tactic used by scammers is to lure individuals with the promise of “free money” such as unclaimed refunds or stimulus funds, only to require an upfront fee for its release.1 Another prevalent scam involves fraudsters posing as a third-party offering to help set up an online IRS account to make tax payments. This information can then be used to file a fake return, steal their identity, or commit other forms of financial fraud.2
It’s important to note that the IRS primarily communicates through the mail and will rarely make contact by phone or in person unless a taxpayer has already received multiple written notices. The IRS will never demand immediate payment, threaten to call the police, or request payment through gift cards, prepaid cards, or wire transfers.3
To help protect yourself, consider creating an IRS Online Account on IRS.gov and avoid exchanging or storing sensitive financial information in an email account. If you receive unsolicited communications claiming to be from the IRS, check with your tax professional before responding. If appropriate, the next step may be to report the incident to local law enforcement, the FBI, the state attorney general, AARP, or the FTC.
Please remember that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax and financial professionals if you have questions or concerns about your personal tax situation.
1LVPNews.com, January 9, 2024. “AARP: Scams the IRS wants you to know about.”
2CNBC.com, January 18, 2024. “‘Fraud is at a crisis level,’ says expert: 5 financial scams to watch out for in 2024.”
3AARP.org, July 27, 2023