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You are here: Home / personal finance / careers / How to Avoid Scams This Tax Season (5 Scams to Watch Out For)

How to Avoid Scams This Tax Season (5 Scams to Watch Out For)

By Teresa

Disclosure: Articles may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no additional cost to you). See our full disclosure here.

Last updated on January 13th, 2024 at 06:24 pm

With tax season upon us, scammers are out in full-force. Keep reading to find out how to avoid scams this tax season, and keep your refund and personal information safe.

How to Avoid Scams This Tax Season

Tax season is here, and people are rushing to pull together their important documents and other information in preparation to file their taxes by the April deadline. Due to the amount of tax preparation being moved online through DIY software, these types of scams are ever-evolving. And the reason they are so popular is because they are so profitable. According to the Internal Revenue Service, thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams. BeenVerifiedโ€™s Communications Director Justin Lavelle shares some of the most common tax-related schemes to be aware of this tax season.

Learn How to Avoid Scams This Tax Season

IRS Phone Scamsโ€”

If you havenโ€™t already been attacked by one of these prevalent scams consider yourself lucky. While IRS phone scams are an all-year round threat, they will likely amp up through now through deadline day and beyond. The key to avoiding being hit by these scams is to know that the IRS does not make threatening phone calls nor do they request wire transfers over the phone. If someone calls saying they are from the IRS, have the confidence to hang up the phone and donโ€™t call back if they leave a voicemail.

Learn How to Avoid Scams This Tax Season

Online Tax Software Phishing Emailsโ€”

A newer emerging tax season threat executed by con artists is sending phishing emails with official looking logos from mainstream online tax providers. These con artists are looking for you to part with social security number and other key details, or trying to infect your computer with malware. Your safest bet is to not open any emails or click on any links that youโ€™re not 100% sure about.

How to Avoid Scams This Tax Season | #taxes #personalfinance Share on X

Fake Tax Refund ID Theft Scamsโ€”

Beware! Identity thieves will steal social security numbers to file fraudulent tax returns, and get a large tax refund early in the season. Guard your social security number and online identity fiercely. Paperless e-filing and online tax software has actually made it easier for this type of scam to proliferate. Also watch closely for your W2s to arrive in the mail. If theyโ€™re not delivered in a timely manner, get to the bottom of where they went and if they were filed falsely.

An Invitation to High-Priced Seminarsโ€”

A long-running tax-season scam involves invitations to seminars, typically costing upwards of $1,000, where attendees are given bullet-proof strategies for lessening their tax bill or avoiding certain types of taxes altogether. Unfortunately, most of these strategies are either invalid or outdated, and completely useless when dealing with the IRS. By the time participants figure this out, the con artists have vanished.

Tax Return Preparer Fraudโ€”

Unfortunately there are an unsavory bunch of people acting as tax return preparers falsely preparing your taxes. Most tax professionals provide honest high-quality service, but there are some dishonest preparers who act as a business preparing taxes to perpetrate refund fraud, identity theft, and other scams. Return preparers are a vital part of the U.S. tax system with about 60% of taxpayers use tax professionals to prepare their returns. To find a trustworthy tax preparer, check with the Better Business Bureau, use a well-known and respected company or get a referral from a friend or co-worker. 

Now that you know how to avoid scams this tax season, share this article with your friends so that they’re protected too!

About Justin Lavelle Justin Lavelle is the Communications Director for BeenVerified.com. BeenVerified is a leading source of online background checks and contact information. It helps people discover, understand and use public data in their everyday lives and can provide peace of mind by offering a fast, easy and affordable way to do background checks on others. BeenVerified allows individuals to find more information about people, phone numbers, email addresses and property records. 


Also read:
Get Your Truly FREE Credit Report and Credit Score Online
How to Save Now for Your Summer Vacation


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Filed Under: personal finance / careers Tagged With: common tax scams, fake tax refund scams, how to avoid irs scams, how to avoid irs tax scams, how to avoid tax scams, IRS phone scams, irs refund scams, irs scams, IRS tax return scams, tax refund scams, tax scams, tax tips, tips for tax time

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sue E

    at

    I cannot stand thieves!! They try to steal money as you are making it and then try to steal the money that youโ€™re entitled to get back!! I received a scam phone call! It showed up on my caller ID as such. I put the pictures of it on Instagram. I also pinned this important information on Pinterest! Please be careful. I am getting upset that not enough of theses robbers are getting caught! Then we are still paying for their room and board in jail ๐Ÿ˜ข

    Reply
  2. Blake Marchand

    at

    Blake MarchandLooking to win this giveaway. Thanks for the chance!

    Reply
  3. Dawn Mielke

    at

    I have a friend who does online taxes for people. She’s been doing it for years and is very good. I hate the technical jargon and figuring it out so it’s worth it to go to her business at tax time and her costs are reasonable compared to other professional Tax companies

    Reply
  4. Megan Allen

    at

    This is something I have absolutely no tolerance for!! Great advice BTW! Be careful everyone!

    Reply
  5. Molli Taylor

    at

    It is so gross that people target taxes for scams. It’s a most desperate time.

    Reply
  6. Blake Marchand

    at

    Looking to win this giveaway. Thanks for the chance!

    Reply

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