Beware of tax scams: IRS unveils 2025 'Dirty Dozen' list to watch for
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Tax season

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Susan Tompor

Detroit Free Press

7:43 a.m. ET March 12, 2025

Beware of tax scams: IRS unveils 2025 'Dirty Dozen' list to watch for
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Fraud has no season, but scammers know that the days leading up to April 15 are a terrific time of the year to engage in tax scams and schemes.

So much so that the Internal Revenue Service each year rolls out what it calls its "Dirty Dozen" tax scams. This year's list includes many that I've reported in the past — fake emails claiming to be from the IRS promising a phony tax refund, fake texts that use alarming language, and "wildly inaccurate tax advice" that's proliferating on social media.

Anyone who is distracted when they're worrying about their tax refunds — or how much they're going to owe in taxes — can easily be misled into making the wrong move.

“Scammers are relentless, and they use the  to try tricking taxpayers into falling into a variety of traps," said Terry Lemons, IRS communications senior adviser, in a statement issued Thursday.

Tax filers risk becoming victims of identity theft, giving access to their bank accounts to fraudsters, and even claiming tax credits that don't apply to them but will lead to dramatic delays for their legitimate tax refunds.

### 'Bad social media advice'

The IRS said a growing concern in 2025 continues to involve all sorts of incorrect tax information on social media. The advice might sound legitimate to some, but honest taxpayers who follow it end up being hurt.

"Social media platforms routinely circulate inaccurate or misleading tax information, including on TikTok where people share wildly inaccurate tax advice," the IRS stated. Sometimes, fraudulent advice includes encouraging people to create or misuse W-2 forms to generate a bigger refund.

The IRS warns taxpayers who "knowingly file fraudulent tax returns that they could potentially face significant civil and criminal penalties."

### Fake help for creating an IRS Individual Online Account

Hard to imagine, perhaps, but someone who offers to be helpful could be helping themselves to your tax information.

"Swindlers can pose as a 'helpful' third party and offer to help create a taxpayer's IRS Individual Online Account at IRS.gov," the IRS warned.

Many people create an online account with the IRS, for example, to get account transcripts. But this is something you do on your own — not with the help of someone else.

"In reality, no help is needed, and the agency offers tips on how to sign up and avoid scams," the IRS states.

The IRS warns that third parties making these offers will "try to steal a taxpayer's personal information and try to submit fraudulent tax returns in the victim's name to get a big refund."

Don't do it — especially if you're already owed a legitimate refund. You're going to be terribly unhappy when you cannot even get the real money that you're owed.

The IRS will be reviewing such claims. "If the IRS cannot verify the wages, income or withholding credits entered on the tax return, the tax refund will be held pending further review."

### The 'bogus self-employment tax credit'

A recent scheme circulating on social media, according to the IRS, will encourage you to fill out Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or other forms like Form 1099-NEC and other 1099s with false income and withholding information.

The scheme involves making up "large income and withholding amounts, as well as the fictional employer supplying those amounts," the IRS said.

"Scam artists then instruct people to file the bogus tax return electronically in hopes of getting a substantial refund due to the large amount of fraudulent withholding."

### The overstated withholding scam

A recent scheme circulating on social media, according to the IRS, will encourage you to fill out Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, or other forms like Form 1099-NEC and other 1099s with false income and withholding information.

The scheme involves making up "large income and withholding amounts, as well as the fictional employer supplying those amounts," the IRS said.

"Scam artists then instruct people to file the bogus tax return electronically in hopes of getting a substantial refund due to the large amount of fraudulent withholding."

### Cybercriminals claiming to be 'new clients'

The IRS said it continues to see signs of an ongoing "new client" scam in 2025. A fake email from a new client, claiming to be from the IRS, is designed to appear as if it were sent from an IRS agent or a third-party advisor. "Once the tax pro responds," the IRS said, "the scammer sends a malicious attachment or URL that can compromise the preparer's computer systems and allow the attacker to access sensitive client information."



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