Tax season brings deadlines, paperwork, and stress. It also brings scammers who know exactly how to exploit that stress.
Every year, criminals push out fake IRS emails, phone calls, and phishing attempts designed to steal money, data, and identities. If you're a business owner handling payroll or filing returns, you're an easy target.
How the Scam Shows Up
- Fake IRS Email: Looks official and urgent. The link leads to a counterfeit IRS site that collects Social Security numbers, bank details, or login credentials.
- Threatening Phone Call: Caller ID shows IRS. The caller claims you owe taxes and demands immediate payment through wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Text Message Trap: A text claims the IRS needs to verify your identity. The link installs malware or sends you to a fake page that steals your information.
What Happens When Scammers Succeed
They file a fraudulent return in your name and take your refund. When you try to file, the IRS rejects it. Fixing this takes months.
Your Social Security number is now in circulation. Criminals open accounts, take loans, and damage your credit. Recovering from identity theft can take years.
Fraudulent filings can trigger IRS reviews. Even as the victim, you must prove it. That means audits, paperwork, legal fees, and lost time. If employee data is compromised, you are responsible. Clients lose trust. Your reputation suffers.
Stay Alert Before It Happens
Tax scams grow more sophisticated every year. The IRS will not call unexpectedly. They will not demand gift cards. They will not threaten immediate arrest.
If something feels off, it probably is. Let tax season be stressful for scammers, not your business. Call 201.402.1900 or book a Free Consulation, and we will review your environment, identify the weak points these scams try to exploit, and show you how to strengthen your defenses before anything becomes a problem.