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Tax season doesn’t just bring paperwork; it also brings scammers.
Every year, the IRS publishes its “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams, highlighting the most common schemes targeting taxpayers. The 2026 IRS Dirty Dozen list includes phishing emails, ghost tax preparers, fake tax credits and other tactics designed to steal money, personal data or tax refunds.
What makes modern tax scams especially convincing is that criminals often personalize their messages using information they find online, including your address, phone number, employer or family members. Much of this data is widely available through data-broker websites, which collect and sell personal information. Some people choose to remove their data manually or use privacy services such as Incogni, which helps request removal of personal information from data-broker databases.
Beyond that, knowing how the IRS actually communicates − and recognizing common red flags − can help you avoid becoming a victim.
