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
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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.