3 Tax-Related Scams the IRS Is Warning People About

Tax season can be stressful—don’t let fraudsters make it worse

Each year the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) releases a list of the latest scams that taxpayers should watch out for. (View the full 2025 list here.) While many of these involve unscrupulous groups and individuals—especially on social media—trying to mislead taxpayers into filing false or incorrect returns, others center on direct attempts by fraudsters to steal money and personal information.

These direct threats represent a major risk of identity theft and financial loss. According to the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization housed within the IRS, more than 1.9 million U.S. tax returns were flagged in 2024 for potential identity issues.

Here are three identity-related scams identified by the IRS for the 2025 tax season, along with advice on how to stay protected as you prepare and file your return.

1. Emails or texts from IRS impersonators

Scammers posing as entities like the IRS, state tax agencies, or tax software companies are sending unsolicited emails with offers of tax refunds or warnings that the recipient faces legal charges for committing tax fraud. These are phishing attempts meant to capture the victim’s personal and financial information. (The text message equivalent of phishing is called “smishing,” in which the fraudster sends an alarming text such as “Unusual Activity Report,” accompanied by a link.) The links in these phony texts and emails could lead to web pages that appear official but are actually fake sites designed to steal personal information. They could also be a way for fraudsters to secretly plant malware or ransomware on your device.

Tip: As a matter of policy, the IRS initiates contact with taxpayers only by mail. Never click a link in an unsolicited email or text message from a sender claiming to be the IRS or any state tax agency. If you need to contact the IRS for any reason, start here.

2. Fake online account assistance

Have you created an individual online account with the IRS? It’s a convenient way to access your tax records, balance, payments, and more. If you haven’t, watch out for third parties contacting you and offering help in setting up your online account. The IRS says there’s been a rise in these phony offers of assistance. The scammers are actually looking to harvest your personal information and submit fraudulent tax returns in your name.

Tip: Don’t respond to any unsolicited offer of online tax assistance. If you need help in setting up your individual online account with the IRS, the agency has a number of free resources available, including Frequently Asked Questions.

3. Bogus nonprofits

While you may have donated to a charity from the goodness of your heart, it’s also nice to get the side benefit of a tax deduction. Beware, however, of fraudulent nonprofits that have been created to take advantage of your generosity. These fake organizations usually don’t serve their stated purpose, and often put your donation into their own pockets. Plus, they’ve got your personal information, which can be exploited for identity theft. As for that tax deduction, it won’t count unless the charity is a qualified tax-exempt organization recognized by the IRS.

Tip: Before giving, do your research on nonprofits through an independent rating service like Charity Navigator. Donate only to nonprofit organizations that can show legitimate proof of their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

More advice for staying safe during tax season

A few bonus tips on how to avoid falling victim to tax-related fraud:

• • Sometimes, IRS impersonators will contact you by phone, with the caller ID altered to match a legitimate IRS number. Don’t fall for it. Remember, the IRS will only initiate contact with a taxpayer by mail.
• • Speaking of mail, if you get a letter claiming to be from the IRS and demanding tax payment through high-pressure language like threats of imprisonment or steep fines, know that it’s a scam. The IRS doesn’t use aggressive collection tactics like this.
• • File your return as early as possible. If your identity is stolen through a data breach, criminals might attempt to file a false tax return in your name. Filing early allows you to stay one step ahead of them. (It’s also a good idea to get an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS—it prevents others from filing a return in your name.)
• • If you believe you’ve been victimized by fraud related to your tax return, report it to the IRS. You can also contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service.

Finally, if your personal information has been compromised in a data breach, you can protect yourself year-round by getting comprehensive identity and privacy coverage such as IDX’s Complete Plan. It includes advanced tools and services built to defend against an array of cyberthreats, plus $1 million in identity theft insurance, continuous monitoring of your credit report and credit score, and more.