Tax Season Is Here: Watch Out for Scams Before They Cost You

As we enter another busy tax season, scammers are ramping up their efforts to take advantage of taxpayers who are eager to file, resolve outstanding issues, or receive refunds as quickly as possible.

Carbone Law, P.A. can represent you if you have unknowingly fallen victim to a scam and are now facing IRS audits, penalties, or collection actions. But, knowing what to watch for can help you avoid problems before they begin.

Over the next several months, we’ll be releasing a short series of blogs that break down some of these scams and explain how they can lead to serious IRS trouble. Let’s start with some of the most common scams:

Two of the most common scams during early tax season involve individuals posing as the IRS or offering assistance with IRS accounts.

Email, text, and phone phishing scams often use alarming language and demand immediate action, such as claiming a refund is frozen or threatening enforcement. Similarly, so called “IRS account help services” claim to assist with setting up or accessing online IRS accounts but instead collect your sensitive personal information for fraudulent use. If you are having trouble accessing your IRS or id.me account, you can access the help services directly on the id.me website.

The IRS does not initiate contact through text messages or social media. Giving these scammers access to your IRS account can result in identity theft and fraudulent filings. There is no need to provide your IRS account information to a third-party so that they can log in to your IRS account. If you need to provide your tax information to your trusted tax return preparer, it is better to log in to your IRS account and download your transcripts yourself.

If you have responded to a suspicious message or shared personal information and are now receiving IRS notices, Carbone Law, P.A. can help assess the situation and work toward a resolution before penalties increase.

Next month, we will continue this series by discussing the rise of bad tax advice online and fraudulent tax credits. Stay tuned and stay vigilant!