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The bipartisan leaders of the Joint Economic Committee of Congress are sounding the alarm tax season scams that fraudsters may want to use against unsuspecting taxpayers as filing season comes to a close.
Taxpayers have until Wednesday, April 15, to file their 2025 tax returns or request an extension, and scammers can take advantage of the approaching deadline to take advantage of taxpayers.
Scammers have fallen victim to about one in four Americans during tax season, which has become increasingly common, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and software that enables deepfakes.
JEC’s scam alert lists several tips that taxpayers should keep in mind when faced with potential scams. It warns taxpayers to be wary of scams by IRS imposters, which can be initiated through phone calls or through emails or text messages using spoofed caller ID or addresses while posing as the IRS.
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Scammers try to exploit taxpayers during tax filing season. (iStock)
Taxpayers should be aware that the tax authorities almost always initiates contact by mail and will never contact via social media. And it only texts or emails in limited circumstances and does not do so to demand immediate payment.
If taxpayers receive a suspicious message, they should not scan QR codes or click on links as they could contain malware or direct them to a website designed to steal their information.
Outreach that claims to be from the IRS and is urgent or threatening, requests identifying information or demands payment through non-traditional methods should be a warning sign to taxpayers.
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Taxpayers should verify messages purporting to be from the IRS if they have concerns about what they are being asked to provide. (Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images)
When the IRS reaches out, it will not threaten to call law enforcementrequire the taxpayer’s driver’s license or business permit; request immediate payment via gift cards, bank transfers or crypto; or direct the taxpayer to a non-IRS website.
Taxpayers can verify communications that appear to be from the IRS by contacting the agency directly by calling the IRS Helpline at 800-829-1040 or by creating an IRS account online to access current tax information.
If they have concerns about a website they visit, they should confirm that it is actually the IRS website and not a bogus website. This can be detected through suspicious signals such as subtle spelling errors or extra letters or words in the website URL.
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The IRS typically initiates contact by mail and will not call or text to request payment or personal information. (Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Third-party taxpayer fraud is also something taxpayers should be aware of when working with tax authorities or other non-IRS tax entities.
Taxpayers should be wary of tax advisors who require high upfront fees or guarantee large refunds. They should also research unknown companies through sites such as the Better Business Bureau or verify a preparer’s professional requirements Preparer’s Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on the IRS website and avoid preparers who refuse to provide their PTIN.
Fraudsters may also try to pose as reputable tax filing companies, so taxpayers should verify unexpected messages by calling the number on the company’s official website.
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The scam alert was issued by the Joint Economic Committeewith leaders of both the House of Representatives and the Senate on both sides of the party aisle.
The panel is led by its chairman, Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz.; ranking member Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Vice Chairman Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. And Senior House Democrat Don Beyer of Virginia warned taxpayers on Thursday.
