Tax Season Scams: How to Spot Them and Stay Safe
Tax time is stressful enough without scammers making it worse.
Every year, criminals pretend to be the IRS, tricking people into paying fake bills or giving away personal details. They use fear to pressure you.
If you know what to watch for, you can avoid their tricks. This blog post talks about tax season scams, including what to do if one reaches you.
How Do Scammers Try to Reach You during Tax season?
Scammers use different ways to contact people. Here’s what they might try:
Phone Calls: They pretend to be the IRS and say you owe money. They may even threaten to have you arrested if you don’t pay right away.
Emails: They send fake IRS emails, asking for personal details like your Social Security number or bank account.
Text Messages: They send texts saying you have a tax problem. These messages often have dangerous links.
Letters: Sometimes, scammers mail fake IRS letters asking for money or private information.
Who Do They Target?
Scammers look for people who are more likely to fall for their tricks. Some of their favorite targets are:
Older Adults: They assume seniors may not know much about online scams, and are more likely to trust authority figures (like the IRS).
New Taxpayers: If you just started filing taxes, you may not know what’s normal. Scammers take advantage of this.
Self-Employed Workers: Business owners and freelancers deal with complicated tax rules.
Immigrants: Some scammers pretend to be immigration officers and threaten deportation if taxes aren’t paid.
Are You at a Higher Risk?
Some habits make people easier targets for tax scams. Specifically, if you have clicked on a link or been a scam victim before, you are more likely to be targeted for future scams. Be careful if you:
Answer calls from unknown numbers: Scammers sound official and try to scare you. If you’ve answered once, you get put on a list for future scams (more on that here and here).
Click on links in emails or texts: One click can lead to stolen personal info or a virus on your device (more on that here).
Share personal details online: Posting about taxes or money problems can attract scammers.
How to Tell If It’s Really the IRS
If you’re not sure whether you’re talking to the real IRS, here’s how to check:
The IRS won’t call first. They send letters before making phone calls.
They don’t threaten you. The IRS won’t say you’ll be arrested or deported, and when they contact you via mail they will give you reasonable, valid timelines. Nothing will be “immediate action.”
The IRS will use your name when they contact you about any potential tax issues. They will never reach out using “Dear Taxpayer” or “Dear Valued Taxpayer.”
They don’t ask for gift cards. The IRS only accepts payments in safe ways, like through their website or by mail.
Check the official IRS website. Go to www.irs.gov to get real information.
Real-Life Scam Examples
A Fake IRS Call Threatening Arrest
Here’s some examples of phone calls you might receive:
Fake IRS Scammer: "This is Officer John Smith from the Internal Revenue Service. We have detected serious discrepancies in your tax filings. You owe $5,200 in back taxes, and if you do not pay immediately, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. How would you like to settle this today?"
Victim: "Wait, what? I don’t understand—can you send me something in writing?"
Fake IRS Scammer: "We have already sent multiple notices to your address. Since you failed to respond, legal action is now being taken. If you do not make a payment within the next 30 minutes, police officers will arrive at your home. I can help you avoid this, but you must act now."
Scary, right?
Here is another:
Scammer: "Good afternoon. This is Agent Mark Johnson from the IRS, badge number 7-5-3-9-2. We have discovered an outstanding tax debt in your name from 2021. You now owe $7,100. If this is not settled today, an arrest warrant will be issued against you."
Victim: "I don't think I owe any taxes. Can I talk to my accountant first?"
Scammer: "This is an urgent matter. If you hang up or delay payment, the IRS will have no choice but to proceed with legal action. You can avoid arrest by making a payment right now using Bitcoin or a prepaid gift card."
General these scams are someone calls, saying you owe back taxes and must pay immediately. They ask for payment through a wire transfer, Bitcoin or gift cards. They may even fake the caller ID to look like the IRS, or give you a real-sounding badge number. If you say you need to talk to your spouse or accountant, they will threaten you with arrest.
An Email from an IRS Scammer Promising a Tax Refund
Sometimes the scam comes through email, instead of a phone call. In this case, they are more likely to offer you a sizable refund, betting that your hope or interest will trick you into clicking the link. Here’s some examples of emails:
Subject: Claim Your IRS Tax Refund Before It Expires!
From: refunds@irs-gov-2025.com
Message:
Dear Taxpayer,
After reviewing your tax return, we have determined that you are eligible for a refund of $1,275.43. To claim your refund, please verify your information by clicking the secure link below:
Failure to respond within 24 hours will result in the cancellation of your refund.
Best regards,
Internal Revenue Service
🚨 Red Flags:
The IRS doesn’t send unsolicited refund emails.
The IRS will use your real name when contacting you.
Fake IRS email domain (irs-gov-2025.com instead of irs.gov).
Urgency to act within 24 hours.
A clickable link leading to a phishing website.
It asks you to “verify” your information by clicking a link. The link likely takes you to a fake website that steals your details.
Subject: IRS Refund Notification – Action Required
From: irs-refund@taxgov.us
Message:
Dear Taxpayer,
Your tax refund of $2,150 is ready for deposit. However, we were unable to process your bank information.
To receive your refund, please update your direct deposit details by logging into our secure system:
This must be completed within 48 hours to avoid refund cancellation.
Thank you,
IRS Refund Processing Department
🚨 Red Flags:
The IRS does not ask for banking information via email.
The IRS will use your real name.
Fake sender email address (taxgov.us instead of irs.gov).
A link that likely leads to a fake login page to steal banking details.
Urgency to act within 48 hours.
Fake Tax Document in an Email containing a Virus
Sometimes the email contains a file that the scammer wants you to download. By downloading or clicking on the file, it releases a virus to your computer that can steal your passwords or lock you out of your computer until you pay the scammer a large amount of money, typically in Bitcoin.
Here’s an example of that kind of email:
Subject: Final Notice: IRS Refund Confirmation
From: refunds@irs-support.com
Message:
Dear Taxpayer,
Attached to this email is your IRS Refund Form 2025, required to claim your $1,867.00 refund. Please complete the form and return it at your earliest convenience.
Failure to comply may result in delays or loss of your refund.
Best regards,
IRS Support Team
Attachment: IRS_Refund_Form.pdf (MALICIOUS FILE)
🚨 Red Flags:
The IRS never sends refund forms via email.
Fake domain name (irs-support.com).
Attachment likely contains malware or a phishing form, meaning the file might have a virus that steals your passwords or locks you out of your computer until you pay the scammer using Bitcoin.
How to Stay Safe
Ignore calls, texts, and emails from “IRS agents.” The real IRS won’t contact you this way. If the IRS needs something, they will send a letter.
Call the real IRS yourself. Their number is 1-800-829-1040. If you get a suspicious call, write down the “badge number” of the agent and call the real IRS to confirm,.
Report scams. Forward fake emails to phishing@irs.gov.
File your taxes early. This stops scammers from filing a fake return in your name.
By staying alert, you can protect yourself from tax season scams.
Don’t let fear rush you into making a mistake. If something feels off, trust your instincts and don’t engage. Take your time, verify who you’re talking to, and stay safe!
For more information and resources, you can check out more here.