As tax season kicks into high gear, scammers are getting more sophisticated in their efforts to steal your personal information, hijack your refund, or rope you into fraudulent tax schemes. Every year, the IRS releases its “Dirty Dozen” list of the worst tax scams, and 2024 is no exception. Let’s break down the biggest threats and, more importantly, how you can protect yourself from these financial traps.

Bad Social Media Advice

You’ve probably seen tax “hacks” making the rounds on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, with influencers pushing shady tactics like submitting fake W-2 forms or claiming credits you don’t actually qualify for to score a bigger refund. But here’s the deal: These so-called tax tricks are actually tax fraud. If you get caught, you could face stiff penalties or even criminal charges.

How to Protect Yourself: VERIFY, don’t VIRAL

• Always cross-check tax advice with IRS.gov or consult a licensed tax professional.
• Be skeptical of social media claims promising unusually large refunds—especially those mentioning an “IRS stimulus check 2024” or exaggerated “IRS tax refund amounts 2025.”
• Legitimate tax strategies never involve falsifying documents or filing fraudulent returns. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Fake IRS Account Help

Scammers posing as “helpers” offer to set up your IRS Individual Online Account, but their real goal is to steal your personal information and file fraudulent tax returns in your name. Once they have your Social Security number and login credentials, they can reroute your refund straight into their pockets.

How to Protect Yourself: Do a SOLO account setup

• Set up your IRS account on your own by going directly to IRS.gov.
• Never share your login credentials with anyone.
• The IRS does not require a third party to create or manage your account.

The Fake “Self-Employment Tax Credit”

Freelancers and gig workers, beware: Scammers are pushing a non-existent “self-employment tax credit” and falsely claiming you can get a refund of up to $32,000. They often misrepresent legitimate programs like the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and may ask you to create fake 1099s or other fraudulent documents.

How to Protect Yourself: Check before you claim

• Verify all tax credits on IRS.gov before filing.
• Be wary of “special” credits you haven’t heard of from trusted sources.
• Filing for bogus credits could delay your legitimate refund and trigger penalties.

Overstated Withholding Tax Scams

Some tax scams encourage you to claim fictional income and withholding from a fake employer to generate a refund. This is outright tax fraud, and if you try it, you could face serious legal trouble.

How to Protect Yourself: Use REAL numbers, get REAL refunds

• Report only actual income and withholding.
• The IRS cross-checks withholding claims with employer reports.
• Filing false information could lead to heavy fines and criminal charges.

Cybercriminals Targeting Tax Professionals

Hackers pose as potential clients and send tax preparers malicious email attachments that infect their computers and steal sensitive client data. The IRS warns that thousands of tax professionals have already been targeted nationwide.

How to Protect Yourself: VERIFY the VOICE

• If you’re a tax preparer, always confirm new client identities through multiple channels.
• Be wary of unsolicited emails with attachments or unusual requests.
• Enable multi-factor authentication on all professional accounts.

Ghost Preparer Scams

Some unethical tax preparers—known as “ghost preparers”—refuse to sign the returns they file, making it harder to hold them accountable if something goes wrong. Many of them inflate deductions or promise massive refunds before disappearing with your money.

How to Protect Yourself: Signature signals SAFETY

• Only work with tax preparers who sign returns and provide a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
• Request copies of all tax documents before filing.
• Be skeptical of any preparer promising a refund amount before reviewing your paperwork.

Direct Deposit Diversions

This scam involves cybercriminals altering your banking details during e-filing to reroute your refund into their own accounts. Victims often don’t realize what’s happened until their refund is long gone.

How to Protect Yourself: Confirm your coordinates

• Always double-check your banking information before submitting your return.
• Review the final version of your tax return before signing off.
• Monitor your refund status using the IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool and stay alert for unexpected transactions like “IRS TREAS 310 TAX REF.”

Emerging Threats: Text Message and Email Schemes

Scammers are getting sneakier, using fake IRS emails, text messages, and even letters that look official. They often try to trick you into clicking on malicious links or handing over your personal information.

How to Stay Safe:

• Never click links in unexpected IRS-related emails or texts.
• Go to IRS.gov directly to check your account status.
• Report suspicious messages to phishing@irs.gov.

Stay Protected

At the end of the day, remember this: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That goes for everything from promises to eliminate your tax debt overnight to shady schemes claiming to make back taxes “disappear.”

The IRS never asks for payments through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. And they certainly don’t make unsolicited calls demanding immediate payment—so if you get a call like that, it’s a scam.

Stay informed, stay skeptical, and always verify tax information through official channels like IRS.gov. By staying one step ahead of scammers, you can protect yourself, your finances, and your peace of mind this tax season and beyond.

Tax Scam Protection: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How can I protect myself from social media tax scams that promise unusually large IRS tax refunds?

A: To protect yourself from fraudulent social media tax advice, always VERIFY, don’t VIRAL. Cross-check any tax advice you see on platforms like TikTok with official information on IRS.gov or consult with a licensed tax professional. Be especially skeptical of trending tax advice that promises unusually large refunds or mentions terms like “irs stimulus check 2024” or inflated “irs tax refund amounts 2025.” Remember that legitimate tax strategies never involve falsifying documents or filing false tax returns.

Q2: What should I do if someone offers to help me set up my IRS online account?

A: Always do a SOLO account setup. Create your IRS Individual Online Account independently by going directly to IRS.gov rather than through a third party. Never share your personal login credentials with anyone offering “assistance,” as these scammers are often attempting to capture your personal information to commit identity theft and file fraudulent tax returns in your name. The IRS never requires intermediaries for account creation.

Q3: How can I identify if a tax preparer might be running a “ghost preparer” scam?

A: Remember that a signature signals SAFETY. Legitimate tax preparers will always sign returns they prepare with their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Be suspicious of any preparer who refuses to sign your return, promises specific refund amounts before reviewing your documentation, or promotes improper deductions. Always request copies of all tax documents before filing, and be wary if the preparer seems eager to disappear after preparing your return.

Q4: What precautions should I take to prevent my tax refund from being diverted to a scammer’s account?

A: To prevent direct deposit diversions, always confirm your coordinates. Verify all banking information BEFORE submission and double-check the final version of your return before authorizing filing. After filing, monitor your expected refund status through the official IRS “Where’s My Refund” tool, and be cautious of any unexpected “irs treas 310 tax ref” transactions that you don’t recognize.

Q5: What should I know about new emerging tax scam threats?

A: Be vigilant about emerging threats like text message and email schemes impersonating the IRS. These phishing attempts often try to trick you into providing personal information or clicking on malicious links. Watch out for IRS scams by mail that may involve fake IRS letters that appear official. If you receive communications about “back taxes scam call” issues or unrealistic “tax debt relief scams,” verify through official IRS channels before responding. Remember that if an offer sounds too good to be true—such as schemes promoting the idea that “tax is theft” or offering solutions like a “dollar tax filer” that promises to eliminate your tax obligations—it almost certainly is a scam.