Tax Season Comes With a Swath of Scams

The IRS has released its annual list of top scams to keep an eye out for ahead of Tax Day. Called the Dirty Dozen, the agency highlighted trends ranging from impersonation fraud to inflated tax returns.

Here are just a few frauds that topped the IRS’ list.

• Impersonation of IRS officials. The top two spots on the IRS’ Dirty Dozen are both impersonation scams where criminals pose as IRS representatives. From basic email and text messages to AI-powered voice cloning, these frauds direct their victims to fake IRS websites and demand personal information and/or money.
• Fake charities. Criminals often solicit donations by posing as phony charities. This is especially common soon after a natural disaster, like hurricanes or wildfires. Taxpayers can claim a deduction for charitable donations on their federal return if they itemize deductions, but charitable donations only count if they go to a qualified tax-exempt organization recognized by the IRS, like the National Consumers League.
• Identity theft involving IRS online accounts. Signing up for an online account with the agency allows you to access your tax records and payment history. Scammers target this trove of sensitive information by offering assistance in helping their victims set up accounts.

The IRS’ full Dirty Dozen scams for 2026 can be found here.

As you prepare your taxes, keep the following tips in mind.

• The IRS will never leave urgent or threatening messages. The agency also does not call taxpayers to demand immediate payment or threaten arrest.
• Don’t rely on AI to do your taxes. The IRS warns that taxpayers should make sure a human answers your complex tax questions.
• If in doubt, ask a trusted contact for advice. Double-check with someone you know if a message seems suspicious.
• Set up multifactor authentication. Requiring two steps for logging in to your online accounts helps secure your information even if someone steals your password.
• Verify the legitimacy of charities. For tax exemption purposes, you can search for IRS’-recognized charities here.
• Create your online IRS account yourself. Don’t give your information to a third-party to create an account on your behalf. The IRS lets you create an account here.

If you believe you have encountered a scam, please file a complaint on our website. Your report helps Fraud.org alert the public and share critical information with consumer protection agencies and law enforcement partners. You can also report scams directly to the IRS on the agency’s website.