Tax season brings a wave of sophisticated IRS scams targeting Americans’ personal information and finances, with scammers now deploying advanced tactics including AI voice cloning and fake stimulus payment texts.
Quick Takes
- The IRS will never contact taxpayers about stimulus payments via text, email, or phone calls—only through mailed letters.
- “Ghost” tax preparers file fraudulent returns without signing them, then disappear with your refund and personal information.
- Scammers use AI-powered voice cloning technology to impersonate trusted individuals and request sensitive financial data.
- Creating an IRS identity protection PIN and filing early are two of the most effective strategies to protect yourself.
- Forward suspicious IRS-related texts to [email protected] and report scams to the BBB Scam Tracker.
Beware Fake Stimulus Payment Texts
A new wave of scam texts claiming to be from the IRS about $1,400 stimulus payments is targeting taxpayers nationwide. These fraudulent messages typically include links to fake IRS websites designed to steal your personal and financial information. The scammers use the promise of automatic payments to trick unsuspecting victims into providing sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, banking details, and other personal information that can be used for identity theft or financial fraud.
If you receive any text claiming to be from the IRS, remember that the agency does not initiate contact with taxpayers through text messages, social media, or email about financial issues. The IRS communicates through official mailed letters, not digital communications. If you receive such messages, do not click on any links. Instead, delete the message or report it as junk/phishing through your phone’s messaging app.
The “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams for 2025
The IRS has released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2025, highlighting dangerous schemes that taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals should be aware of. These scams don’t just operate during tax filing season but continue year-round, with perpetrators constantly adapting their tactics. The list includes sophisticated email phishing attempts, fake charity scams that exploit public generosity during crisis situations, and false fuel tax credit claims that mislead taxpayers into making improper deductions.
The IRS works collaboratively with state tax agencies, the tax software industry, financial institutions, and tax professionals to combat these threats through the Security Summit initiative. This partnership focuses on raising awareness and educating taxpayers about how to protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams targeting their tax and financial information.
Advanced Scam Tactics: AI Voice Cloning and Ghost Preparers
Tax scammers are employing increasingly sophisticated methods, including artificial intelligence. Voice cloning technology allows criminals to mimic the voices of trusted individuals, such as family members or tax professionals, to request sensitive financial information or immediate payments. These AI-powered impersonations can be convincing enough to fool even cautious taxpayers, especially when combined with information gathered from data breaches or social media profiles.
Another prevalent threat comes from “ghost” tax preparers—individuals who prepare tax returns without signing them or providing a Preparer Tax Identification Number as required by law. These unscrupulous preparers often promise unusually large refunds, charge fees based on refund percentages, and disappear after filing fraudulent returns. By the time taxpayers discover issues with their returns, the ghost preparer has vanished, leaving the taxpayer responsible for any penalties, interest, or additional taxes.
Protection Strategies for Taxpayers
To protect yourself during tax season, file your return as early as possible to prevent scammers from filing a fraudulent return using your information. Consider creating an IRS Identity Protection PIN—a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number. This PIN is known only to you and the IRS and serves as a powerful protection against tax-related identity theft.
When choosing a tax preparer, verify their credentials and ensure they have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Legitimate preparers will sign the return they prepare for you and include their PTIN. Be wary of preparers who base their fees on a percentage of your refund or claim they can get larger refunds than others. If you receive suspicious communications claiming to be from the IRS, report them immediately by forwarding emails to [email protected] and reporting texts to the IRS and the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker.
Sources:
- How to spot phony $1,400 IRS stimulus payment offers and protect your data
- Dirty Dozen tax scams for 2025: IRS warns taxpayers to watch out for dangerous threats
- Refunds and Stimulus Checks: Tax Season Scams to Know
