IRS's 2025 "Dirty Dozen"
03/12/2025
IRS’s 2025 “Dirty Dozen”
Another year, another tax season, and another round of scams looking to defraud you during this stressful time. Every year, the IRS releases a list called the “Dirty Dozen,” which goes over the most prominent scams taxpayers should be on the lookout for in this tax season. With the 2025 list just released, we wanted to go over what you need to know about these scams.
While this list is not meant to be exhaustive, the “Dirty Dozen” features what the IRS feels will be the most troubling scams for taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals. This is an effort to raise awareness for taxpayers and empower them to be able to make informed decisions that will protect their information and money. Here are this year’s “Dirty Dozen”:
- Phishing and Smishing – This refers to attempts by fraudsters posing as tax professionals, government agencies, or tax software companies to gain access to your information via emails or texts. Remember that personal information should only be shared with verified professionals. Furthermore, remember that government and tax agencies will NEVER reach out to you via text or email for things like criminal charges, refunds, or requests for information. The IRS will ONLY contact you via mail.
- Social Media Advice – Incorrect and misleading tax information is rampant on social media. The most nefarious is intentionally incorrect or misleading information shared by scammers who aim to steal your refund. Some of the information that is circulated can even lead to you receiving criminal charges. Only trust information from the IRS, licensed tax professionals, and other reputable sources.
- IRS Individual Account Help – Third parties posing as tax professional will claim they can help you set up your IRS Individual Account. However, the real aim is to steal your personal information or forge tax documents so they can steal an inflated refund. The IRS would like to remind taxpayers that you do not need any third party to sign up for an account and they provide helpful guides to get you started. Visit Online account for individuals | Internal Revenue Service to learn more.
- Fake Charities – Scammers set up fake charities to steal your money and personal information. They may entice you by saying you will get a tax break for your donation; however, only qualified tax-exempt organizations are eligible for this deduction.
- Fuel Tax Credit – Unscrupulous tax preparers will encourage taxpayers to unknowingly claim tax credits they do not qualify for to inflate their return and take a cut.
- Sick Leave and Family Leave Credit – This credit was ONLY available for the 2020 and 2021 tax season. Bad advice may lead to taxpayers still trying to use this credit.
- Fake Self-Employment Tax Credit – Many social media posts falsely claim many more people than are actually eligible can claim this credit. If you think you may qualify, consult a licensed tax preparer.
- Improper Household Employment Taxes – Fictional household employees are used to claim a refund.
- Overstated Withholding - Scammers will encourage taxpayers to make up large amounts of income and withholding in order to receive an inflated return. Most times the scammer will get a cut of this return. The IRS verifies all wages and will withhold the return for review.
- Misleading Offers in Compromise – Offers in Compromise is a legitimate program that helps those with tax debt. Scammers, however, will promote this program in misleading ways and charge the taxpayer a lot of money for their assistance.
- “Ghost” Tax Return Preparers – Unlicensed scammers will pretend to be legitimate tax preparers and charge the taxpayer based on the size of the return they can get them. These “ghost” preparers often falsify tax returns, have the taxpayer sign an unfinished return, refuse to sign the return themselves, and do not provide a PTIN. You can verify your tax professional online.
- Spear Phishing – These targets tax professionals. Scammers will impersonate new clients and, once the tax preparer responds, send malicious links or attachments. The scammer will then steal sensitive client information from the professional.
Tax season is hard enough without scammers trying to steal your money and information. Make sure you stay vigilant this tax season!
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