Tax season is prime hunting ground for fraudsters, and the IRS wants you to know exactly what to watch for.
With the April 15 deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service has updated its annual "Dirty Dozen" list for 2026, cataloging the most common scams targeting taxpayers during filing season. Eric Bronnenkant, head of tax at Edelman Financial Engines, told The Post that scammers tend to spike their activity this time of year, exploiting stress and tight deadlines to deceive unsuspecting filers.
The issue has drawn renewed attention from tax professionals and financial advisors who argue that government agencies, while well-intentioned, can't keep pace with increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. In many ways, this is a story about personal responsibility — knowing the playbook scammers use is your first and best line of defense. Here's what you need to know to protect your money and your identity this tax season.
According to the New York Post, as told by Bronnenkant, fraudsters are "hoping to catch people off guard and stressed," which is exactly what the weeks leading up to April 15 provide. The combination of deadline anxiety and refund anticipation creates a perfect environment for deception. Scammers know most people are already overwhelmed by the complexity of the tax code. Bronnenkant explained the mechanics clearly: "The messages often create a false sense of urgency, claiming there's a problem with a return, a missed payment, or an issue with a refund, so people act quickly without verifying the source." That urgency is the core weapon in virtually every tax scam.
"Because taxpayers are focused on meeting deadlines and tracking refunds, it can be easier for fraudulent messages to blend in with legitimate tax-related communications," he added. This blending effect is what makes modern scams so dangerous — they look real, sound real, and arrive at exactly the moment you'd expect legitimate correspondence.
Scammers are also becoming more sophisticated, often using personal information or even artificial intelligence tools that mimic legitimate communications from trusted institutions and individuals. This isn't your grandfather's phishing email riddled with typos. Today's fraud can involve AI-generated voice calls that sound eerily like real IRS agents or trusted financial advisors. The numbers back this up. During the 2025 fiscal year, the IRS reported over 600 social media impersonators. The IRS and the Coalition Against Scam and Scheme Threats have identified social media misinformation as a "major driver" of taxpayer fraud.
Fraudulent websites often prompt users to "verify" personal information, creating convincing replicas of official IRS portals. Some scam variations involve fabricated versions of Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, 1099-NEC, 1099-DIV, 1099-OID, and 1099-B. Another scheme involves the abuse of undistributed long-term capital gains claims using Form 2439. The IRS has been blunt: "Inaccurate claims can lead to penalties and enforcement action."
One of the most important facts to remember is how the IRS actually communicates. The agency noted that it generally contacts taxpayers by mail first. The IRS does not leave urgent or threatening pre-recorded messages, call to demand immediate payments, or threaten arrest. If you receive a call, text, or email that feels urgent and threatening, that's your biggest red flag. The IRS warns against clicking on any links or opening attachments from unexpected messages. Suspicious phishing emails or messages should be forwarded directly to [email protected].
Additionally, the IRS has urged taxpayers not to rely on AI-generated responses to complex tax questions. Any calculations or information provided by AI tools should always be independently verified. For those who suspect their tax identity has been compromised, the IRS directs them to IRS.gov/idtheft.
Bronnenkant advised that scammers "will always be on the lookout," which means taxpayers need to be equally vigilant. He specifically recommended the IRS Identity Protection PIN program, which provides a six-digit number chosen by the IRS that can be requested through an established IRS online account. This PIN has no relationship to any other PIN and adds a critical layer of security to your filing.
"Taking simple steps like verifying unexpected requests, securing accounts, and using tools like IP PIN can go a long way toward financial protection," Bronnenkant said. The IRS also provides free tools to check eligibility for programs like the Offer in Compromise, so taxpayers should use official channels rather than trusting third-party promises of unusually large refunds.
Here are key action items to keep in mind:
"It's important to stay calm and avoid responding to urgent requests for personal information or payment. Scammers often rely on emotional or financial pressure, so taking a moment to verify the request through official channels can help prevent costly mistakes," Bronnenkant said. That advice alone could save thousands of taxpayers from falling victim.
Bronnenkant summed up the landscape well: "Tax scams evolve each year, but they tend to rely on the same tactics of creating urgency, impersonating trusted institutions like the IRS, or promising unusually large refunds. This is why cybersecurity and scam awareness are key to understanding to be clear." The playbook doesn't change much — but the packaging gets slicker every year. At the end of the day, no government list can fully protect you from fraud. The best defense is a healthy dose of skepticism, a refusal to act under pressure, and the discipline to verify everything through official sources. Your financial security is ultimately your responsibility — and that's a principle worth filing under "permanent."