To help businesses and taxpayers prepare for the federal tax filing deadline next month, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is releasing information on 12 common tax scams to be aware of this year.
As many of these scams peak during the filing season, the IRS annually launches a “Dirty Dozen” campaign, highlighting one common tax scam a day to its online newsroom.
The IRS also urges taxpayers to learn how to protect themselves by reviewing safety tips prepared by the Security Summit, a collaborative effort between the IRS, state revenue departments and the private sector tax community.
Dirty Dozen
Some of the 2019 scam schemes featured thus far are:
- Phishing scams, such as fake emails, text messages, websites, and social media attempts to steal personal information;
- Con artists or unscrupulous tax return preparers promising overly large refunds;
- Phone scams where aggressive criminals pose as IRS agents in hopes of stealing money or personal information;
- Falsifying income, including the creation of bogus Forms 1099; and
- Tax-related identity theft.
More Information
To view this year’s “Dirty Dozen” list or view lists from previous years, visit www.irs.gov/dirtydozen.
