Ahead of the April 15th deadline for tax filing, Joint Economic Committee Chairman David Schweikert (R-AZ), Ranking Member Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Vice Chairman Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and Senior House Democrat Don Beyer (D-VA) are warning the public about common tax season scams. Criminals frequently use AI to impersonate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax software companies in order to steal from tax filers. Some scammers even file tax returns using stolen identities and then collect refunds owed to their unsuspecting victims.
Nearly one in four Americans have reported being victimized by tax season scams, which are increasingly common:
• A scam call blocking company identified a 400 percent increase in fraudulent calls impersonating the IRS between January and late February 2026.
• A security firm found an average of 43 fake tax websites every day from September 2025 to mid-February 2026.
• The IRS reported more than 600 social media impersonators of the agency during fiscal year 2025.
The alert is part of ongoing Congressional efforts to address the soaring rates of scams, which accounted for nearly half a trillion dollars in losses last year and surpass the drug trade as an illicit industry. It follows previous alerts on holiday shopping, holiday travel, and Super Bowl scams.
Below are some practical ways to spot and protect against common tax season scams, including tips from the IRS, AARP, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and other experts.
Tips to Avoid Common Tax Season Scams
IRS Impersonation Scams: Learn the common signs of IRS imposter scams and take steps to protect yourself
• Be wary of phone calls or digital outreach claiming to be from the IRS, which almost always initiates contact by mail.
o Scammers can spoof caller ID and use tools like AI deepfakes to imitate the IRS in calls, emails, and texts.
o The IRS will never message you on social media and will only email or text in limited circumstances and never to demand immediate payment.
o If you get a suspicious message, never scan QR codes or click on links, which can contain malware or direct you to a website that steals your information.
• Be on alert for outreach claiming to be from the IRS that is urgent or threatening, requests identifying information, or demands payment through nontraditional methods. The IRS will never:
o Threaten to call law enforcement o Demand your driver’s license or business license
o Demand immediate payment or payment through a nontraditional payment method such as a gift card, crypto, or money wire
o Direct you to a website that is not IRS.gov
• Verify any communications that purport to be from the IRS with the IRS directly.
o Confirm that you are using the official IRS.gov website and not a sham website. Look for suspicious signs like subtle misspellings and extra letters or words in the URL.
o Call the IRS help line at 800-829-1040 or create an IRS account online for up-to-date information on your tax records.
o Verify letters and notices on the IRS website.
• Protect yourself from identity thieves by using an IRS-issued identity protection PIN instead of your Social Security number.
Third-Party Preparer Scams: Take extra precautions when working with third-party tax services or other non-IRS tax entities
• Research unfamiliar tax preparers and be wary of offers that seem too good to be true.
o Research unfamiliar companies on sites like the Better Business Bureau.
o Watch out for tax preparers who demand high upfront fees or guarantee large refunds.
o Verify a preparer’s professionally required Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on the IRS website, and avoid tax preparers who refuse to provide their PTIN.
• Keep an eye out for scammers who impersonate reputable tax preparation companies.
o Verify unexpected communications by calling the number on the company’s official website.
Information for Victims
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, please visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov and/or contact local law enforcement.