Tax scams on the rise as April 15 approaches, IRS warns: Here are the ‘dirty dozen’ hoaxes to avoid

In the midst of tax season, with the April 15 deadline quickly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers about scammers out to rip you off.

Scams tend to spike during tax filing season because people are already expecting communication regarding refunds, payments or account updates from the IRS, Eric Bronnenkant, head of tax at Edelman Financial Engines, told The Post.

Fraudsters take advantage of heightened fear and awareness of looming tax cutoffs, “hoping to catch people off guard and stressed,” he explained.

“The messages often create a false sense of urgency, claiming there’s a problem with a return, a missed payment, or an issue with a refund, so people act quickly without verifying the source,” he continued. “Because taxpayers are focused on meeting deadlines and tracking refunds, it can be easier for fraudulent messages to blend in with legitimate tax-related communications.”

Some of the most common scams are listed on the IRS’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams, updated for 2026.

The list represents “the worst of the worst” scams that pose a threat to the financial information of taxpayers, businesses and tax professionals. With a variety of common scams that taxpayers could come across at any time, the IRS advises people to stay cautious year-round, as scammers “will always be on the lookout” for new ways to obtain money, personal information and data, Bronnenkant said.