What is a Tax Scam: How to Identify and Avoid | 2025 Tax Season

Tax and IRS scams are not an uncommon occurrence. Learning how to identify and avoid getting scammed can prepare you for when it may happen to you.

What is a Tax Scam?

     Many individuals lose their money and personal information to tax scams daily. Frauds or “Scammers” often pose as the IRS, non-profits, etc. over mail, telephone, and email to steal information from individuals, businesses, and tax professionals. It is important to note that the IRS will NOT contact you first through call, text, email, or social media channels. They do this to target individuals, especially seniors, to then steal their information and money.

How to identify: 

Some common scams include:

• Scammers posing as the IRS relating to tax issues

• Fraudulent Charities

• IRS impersonators over phone call

• Social media scams and misinformation

• Fraudulent tax return preparers

• Promotion of fraudulent tax credits

• Scams aimed at non-English speakers and the elderly

• Unauthorized IRS account assistance

• Improper use of trusts/funds

• False tax shelters

• Baseless Tax Arguments

How to Avoid:

     Again, it is important to note that the IRS ALWAYS REACHES OUT BY MAIL FIRST. It is crucial that you do not give out personal information over the phone, online, through email, or in any other form. The mail you receive from the IRS will provide all the contact information and instructions you will need to properly contact the IRS.