As the 2022 tax filing season officially kicks off on January 23, the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) wants taxpayers to be aware of scammers claiming to be the IRS. According to the IRS, scammers may use the mail, telephone, email, and now text messaging to target taxpayers. It is important to understand the IRS will not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or through social media channels to request your personal financial information.

For more information about tax scams, visit the IRS’s consumer alerts page, and check out their press release, Taxpayers should hang up if tax season scammers come calling. This article, No, that’s not the IRS texting about a tax refund or rebate. It’s a scam., from the Federal Trade Commission also includes valuable information to prevent exposing yourself to ITS impersonators.

Find additional information on how to report scams here.