Irs warns taxpayers about these ‘dangerous threats’

The tax season is about us, and the IRS warns people who are careful with numerous scams while working on their presentation.

The internal tax service wants to ensure that taxpayers know what to take into account when completing their statements this year. Its “dozen dirty” list offers taxpayers a clear vision of what to avoid.

“The Annual Campaign of Dirty Dozen of the IRS lists 12 scams and schemes that threaten taxpayers.” Press release notes. “While the dirty dozen is not a legal document or a formal list of priorities for the application of the agency, the educational effort is designed to raise awareness and protect taxpayers and the fiscal professionals of the common fiscal scams and schemes.”

The 2025-26 list details numerous scams and other online traps that people should avoid. Terry Lemons, main communications advisor to the IRS, said that scams are “relentless” and that the tax season can often increase the vulnerability of people to fall in love.

“They use the appearance of the tax season to try to deceive taxpayers to fall into a variety of traps,” Lemons said in a press release. “These red flags can lead to everything, from identity theft to being deceived to claim tax credits for which they are not entitled. For more than two decades, the IRS has highlighted the dozen dirty through long -range communications and educational campaigns as part of a broader effort of the agency to protect taxpayers from being scammed. ”

Taxes must be submitted to IRS before April 15.

They are included in the 2025-26 list are:

Phishing scam email: Email and text scams objective to taxpayers and other consumers. Taxpayers should pay attention to details in an email or text message, since the agency indicates that scammers try to “attract off guard to provide valuable personal and financial information.” The IRS indicates two main types of digital scams.

• Phishing: Often arriving in the form of an email, it is sent by scammers who claim to come from IRS. Consumers are attracted to believe that they will have legal measures against them if they do not act quick enough.
• Broad: This is often done through the text message, where scammers often use an alarming language to try to convince users to click on a link to “restore” their account or solve a problem that is often not real.

Here You can find more information to inform Phishing/Smithing instances.

Bad advice of social networks: The IRS also mentions that in 2025, the incorrect fiscal information on social networks can deceive honest taxpayers with bad advice, which could lead to identity theft and fiscal problems. This advice often comes from Tiktok or other social media platforms.

Individual online account help of scams: According to the IRS, “scammers can pose as a” useful “third and offer to help create the IRS of a taxpayer Individual online account In Irs.gov, “that creates a problem because IRS provides clear instructions on how to make an account and prevent your personal information from stealing or compromised.

False charities: False beneficial organizations are problems that generally arise during a natural crisis or disaster such as a hurricane or tornado, since links are shared on social networks to help others, while some wish to earn extra money or steal personal information.

Taxpayers who donate effective or owned to a charity organization can claim a deduction in their federal tax declaration, provided they detail their deductions.

False Fuel Credit Claims: A main concern during the past year involved taxpayers who were deceived to believe they were eligible for fuel tax credit. According to the IRS, “the credit is intended for the use of business and farmers off the road and is not available for most taxpayers.” The IRS says that it has seen an “increase” in the promotion of the presentation of certain reimbursable credits that use forms such as Form 4136 and federal tax credit paid in fuel. You can find more information on how to claim this credit can be found here.

Fiscal credit for false self -employment: IRS warns consumers about a “Fiscal credit for non -existent self -employment“That is attracting taxpayers to present false claims. Scammers often promise monetary profits of “up to $ 32,000” according to the IRS, which is inaccurate.

Inadequate employment taxes at home: This scam involves taxpayers who create false household employees and present a Annex H (Form 1040), Household taxesto earn extra money through illness or family emergency.

The exaggerated retention scam: This recent scheme tells people to complete “W-2, declaration of wages and taxes, or other forms such as form 1099-NEC and another 1099” with false income and not inform the appropriate fiscal information.

The IRS points out that if “you cannot verify salaries, income or credit retention entered in the tax declaration, tax refund will be kept waiting for additional review.” Taxpayers must aim to submit a complete and precise tax declaration to avoid serious problems with the IRS.

DECEÑY OFFICES IN COMMITMENT: The program “Commitment offers (IIC)” helps people to solve their federal tax debts when they cannot pay in their entirety. However, scammers can aggressively cheat People who do not comply with the qualifications, which could cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. People can verify eligibility for free using the IRS Offer in the Commitment Pre-Califier Tool.

Ghost Tax Declaration Premises: Many tax trainers provide good service and help taxpayers to present themselves correctly. IRS warns taxpayers about “Shaded Tax Professionals“

A large red flag indicating the IRS is “when the tax coach is not willing to sign the statement.” They identify these “ghost” trainers, which IRS defines as someone who “will prepare a tax declaration but refuses to sign or include their tax identification number of the IRS coach (Pin) as required by law.”

Taxpayers should never sign a blank or incomplete statement.

New client scams and spear phishing: The IRS said he continues to see “New client” Phishing attempts that are directed to fiscal professionals

Cybercriminals aim to deceive clients, fiscal professionals and other companies to respond to their emails.

Once the tax professional responds, the scammer sends a malicious attached file or URL that steals confidential information.