IRS Releases List of “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams for 2026
Each year, the IRS releases its “Dirty Dozen,” a list of tax scams that taxpayers should be wary of. The list highlights common scams that put people at risk of losing money, personal information, data, and more. Here are the 12 scams that you should be aware of in 2026:
Email and text scams. Criminals attempt to steal personal information by posing as legitimate IRS or state tax agency professionals through “phishing” and “smishing” scams. In these scams, they try to trick you into giving them sensitive personal and financial information. They may offer fake refunds or attempt to scare you by saying you’re being charged with tax fraud. Never click on any unsolicited communications that claim to be from the IRS.
IRS Online Account setup “help.” Taxpayers are urged to be wary of scammers who try to sell or offer their help in setting up an Online Account with the IRS, because it may put you at risk of identity theft. Taxpayers should not need assistance from a third party in setting up an account; allowing these scammers to help you gives them access to your personal information, which they can use to file a fraudulent return and claim your refund.
OIC mills: Offer in Compromise (OIC) is a legitimate and valuable IRS program that may allow a taxpayer to settle a tax debt for less than the full amount owed. OIC “mills,” however, are third-party marketers who claim they can settle your bill for pennies on the dollar while also charging excessive fees. Taxpayers can easily obtain information about their qualification status for free from the IRS instead of paying for the same service by working with these “mills.”
Fake charities: During times of major disasters, scammers will create fake charities to steal money and personal information. Taxpayers are urged to remain vigilant about charitable donations. Take time to do your research, verify the authenticity of the charity, and be cautious about the method you use to donate.
“Ghost” tax preparers. Every year, “ghost preparers” crop up, encouraging taxpayers to take advantage of credits and benefits that they don’t actually qualify for. They charge a large fee and sometimes even steal the refund, then disappear, leaving the taxpayer to deal with the ramifications. In addition to urging you to claim ineligible credits and deductions, other warning signs that your tax preparer is less than honorable include fees based on the size of your refund, refusing to sign your return, or directing your refund into their account instead of yours. Always make sure to check the credentials of your tax preparer, because you are ultimately responsible for all of the information on your tax return.
Bad advice on social media. Social media is full of inaccurate, misleading, and fraudulent tax advice that could potentially cause identity theft and tax problems. It’s important to be wary of information you see online and to verify it with trusted sources, like the IRS.
Spearfishing and malware targeting tax professionals. Spearfishing scams are aimed at tax professionals and businesses, which are urged to be wary of suspicious email requests that can attempt to steal client data, tax software preparation credentials, and preparer identities. The “new client” spearfishing scam is one that is particularly common; in this scheme, cybercriminals pose as new clients and when a tax preparer responds to their email, they send a malicious link or attachment that can compromise computer systems and allow them access to sensitive information.
False self-employment tax credits. Scammers are still claiming to have information about the “Self-Employment Tax Credit,” and many taxpayers are convinced to file bogus claims and take a bigger refund. Most people do not end up qualifying for these credits, so the IRS closely reviews any returns that claim them.
Overstated withholding scam. Scammers encourage people to falsify forms such as W-2s and 1099s with fake income and inflated withholding information in hopes of receiving a large refund. Taxpayers should be aware that if the IRS cannot verify wages, income, or withholding credits, they will hold back the refund pending a review.
Phone scams. AI-generated phone scams are on the rise and include robocalls, voice mimicry, and spoofed caller IDs to boost their legitimacy. Remember that the IRS generally contacts taxpayers by mail first, not by phone, and will not leave urgent, intimidating pre-recorded messages, demand immediate payment, or threaten arrest over the phone.
Abusive claims involving undistributed long–term capital gains. Recently, the IRS has seen an increase in the abuse of Form 2439, which allows shareholders of certain investment funds or real estate trusts to claim a refundable credit for taxes paid on undistributed capital gains. Overstated and fabricated claims; claims tied to illegitimate investment funds or trusts; and false claims linked to legitimate organizations have all been identified as common schemes. The IRS warns that improper claims can lead to refund delays, audits, penalties, or other enforcement actions.
Non–cash charitable contribution scams. Scammers will sometimes over-inflate appraisals of donated property, using syndicated conservation easements or art, promising to reduce or even eliminate the tax liability of the donated property.
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