The Internal Revenue Service is educating taxpayers on the most prevalent scams in 2016. We are working hard to help you keep your money safe and protect against tax scams. Below are the most commonly seen tax scams. Please stay vigilant, and contact your local branch office immediately, if you feel you have been compromised.

The IRS is also strongly suggesting that you sign up for Direct Deposit if you are expecting to receive a refund this tax season. You can do this by speaking with any of our Customer Service Representatives at any branch.

2016 Tax Scams

Phone Scams: Phone calls from criminals impersonating IRS agents. Never give out personal information from someone who calls you. Legitimate IRS agents will never contact you in this manner.

Phishing: Be on guard against fake emails and website looking to steal personal information. Do not open unsolicited emails. Legitimate IRS agents will never contact you in this manner. Be especially wary of any unsolicited email with an attachment and delete it right away.

Return Preparer Fraud: Be on the lookout for unscrupulous return preparers. Use reputable, well-known tax preparers.

Inflated Refund Claims: Taxpayers need to be on the lookout for anyone promising inflated refunds. Be wary of anyone who asks taxpayers to sign a blank return, promises a big refund before looking at their records, or charges fees based on a percentage of the refund. Scam artists use flyers, advertisements, phony store fronts and word of mouth via community groups where trust is high to find victims.

Fake Charities: Be on guard against groups masquerading as charitable organizations to attract donations from unsuspecting contributors. Be wary of charities with names similar to familiar or nationally-known organizations. Contributors should take a few extra minutes to ensure their hard-earned money goes to legitimate and currently eligible charities. IRS.gov has the tools taxpayers need to check out the status of charitable organizations.

For more information, please visit the official website of the Internal Revenue Service.