Watch Out For Scams This Tax Season
You can avoid a tax scam by knowing what to watch out for and how the IRS contacts you. Scammers mislead you about tax refunds, credits, and payments. They pressure you for personal, financial, or employment information or money.
Red Flag of Tax Scammers:
- Scammers mislead you about tax refunds, credits, and payments. They pressure you for personal, financial, or employment information or money. Impersonators try to look like the IRS.
Watch out for:
- A big payday - If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Bad tax advice on social media may convince you to lie on tax forms or mislead you about credits you can claim.
- Demands or threats - Impersonators want you to pay “now or else.” They threaten arrest or deportation. They won’t let you question or appeal the amount of tax you owe.
- Website links - Odd or misspelled web links can take you to harmful sites instead of IRS.gov.
The IRS will NOT:
- Contact you or take payment on social media. Get trusted tax information on the IRS's official social media accounts.
- Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards as payment
- Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials
- Take your citizenship status, driver's license, or business license
- Leave pre-recorded voicemails (robocalls)
- Mail tax debt resolution advertisements
Get more information and tips to avoid tax scams at irs.gov