The IRS “Dirty” Tax Scams to Avoid in 2025

Tax season already requires a leap of faith—but with scammers in the mix, that leap lands you flat. The IRS just released its 2025 Dirty Dozen list, a greatest-hits compilation of tax scams that continue to trip up honest taxpayers and diligent tax pros alike. We’ll give you a summary with less than a dozen points.

While these schemes peak during filing season, they don’t take vacations. They lurk all year, ready to swipe your personal info, drain your bank account, or convince you to file something that will have the IRS sending love letters (the audit kind).

Phishing, Smishing, and the Inbox of Doom

Let’s start with the headliners: phishing and its equally shady cousin, smishing. These scams sneak into your inbox or phone with messages that look eerily official: “You’re getting a refund!” or “Your account’s been locked!”

Spoiler alert: these messages aren’t from the IRS. Clicking those links could download malware or hand over your data to someone whose idea of a good time is filing a fake return in your name.

The real IRS will never initiate contact by email or text. If you get one, treat it like spam: delete, ignore, and maybe shake your head dramatically.

Social Media Advice You Should Absolutely Ignore

Then there’s the TikTok tax advice trend, where financial fantasy meets social media virality. From “secret” credits to “loopholes” involving made-up employees, bad advice spreads faster than a cat video.

In 2025, there’s been a rise in fake Fuel Tax Credit claims, imaginary self-employment credits, and misused forms that were only ever meant for pandemic-era relief. Just because someone on the internet got a $32,000 refund doesn’t mean you should try their method. The IRS will fact-check your creative fiction.

When Help Isn’t Helpful at All

Fraudsters have also found sneaky ways to exploit helpful tools like the IRS Individual Online Account. Posing as helpful “assistants,” they offer to set it up for you—then run off with your Social Security number and file bogus returns.

Fake charities are another perennial favorite. If a heartfelt cause appears out of nowhere after a crisis, take a minute to confirm it’s legit before donating. If you’re itemizing, only donations to IRS-recognized nonprofits actually qualify for a tax deduction—so giving to a scammer is generous, but not deductible.

Sketchy Tax Preparers and Fake Employers

Let’s not forget about ghost preparers—tax preparers who fill out your return, but disappear when it’s time to sign, leaving you holding the bag if something goes wrong.

Watch out for ghost preparers—the ones who happily fill out your return but vanish like Houdini when it’s time to sign. If someone’s not willing to attach their name to the return, that’s your cue to walk away. Meanwhile, shady promoters are pushing Offers in Compromise like they’re coupons for instant tax relief. Yes, the OIC program is real, and yes, it helps some people settle their tax debt—but only if they truly can’t afford to pay. Many of these operators charge hefty fees while knowing full well their clients don’t qualify.

And don’t get us started on fake W-2s and puffed-up withholding amounts—those “refund hacks” you see online are really just fast tracks to penalties, audits, and possibly legal trouble with the IRS.

Scammers Target the Tax Pros, Too

The IRS even spotted a growing threat aimed at tax pros themselves: spear phishing. These scams impersonate new clients to lure professionals into clicking a malicious link. One wrong click, and an entire client database could be exposed.

Whether you’re a taxpayer or a preparer, the advice is the same—trust your instincts, double-check strange requests, and don’t click on anything that smells even a little off.

Trust Your Gut

Bottom line? Tax scams are getting bolder, and the internet has only widened their reach. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Stick with trusted sources, work with qualified tax preparers and CPAs, and when in doubt, don’t click. The Dirty Dozen may sound like a throwback action movie, but falling for one of these schemes is no one’s idea of entertainment.

Learn more: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-tax-scams-for-2025-irs-warns-taxpayers-to-watch-out-for-dangerous-threats