5 Tips to Help You Stay Safe During Tax Season

Tax season does not just bring deadlines. It also brings scams.

Every filing season, criminals try to steal refunds, personal data, and login details by pretending to be the IRS or by pushing fake refund and credit offers. In 2026, the IRS again warned taxpayers about phishing emails, scam texts, fake social media messages, and QR-code tricks that send people to fraudulent websites.

Here are five practical ways to make sure that you aren’t a victim of a tax scam this year.

So, what measures can you take to make sure that you aren’t a victim of a tax scam this year?

1. Know How IRS Will Contact You

One of the easiest ways to spot a scam is to understand how the IRS usually reaches taxpayers.

The IRS says it does not initiate contact by email or social media. In most cases, the first contact is a letter or notice sent by mail. The IRS may call in some situations, and it may send an email only after an IRS employee has verified your identity and you have agreed to communicate that way.

So if you get an unexpected email, text, direct message, or social post claiming to be from the IRS and asking you to click a link, verify a refund, or share personal details, treat it as a red flag. Do not reply. Do not click links. Do not open attachments.

In fact, the IRS encourages sending suspicious emails to [email protected]. If you want to verify whether a contact is real, check your IRS Online Account or call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.

2. Beware of Offers That are Too-good-to-be-true

Tax season brings frustration among many people. Some are confused by the process, while others are desperate to find ways to reduce the workload. This encourages scammers who are looking to take advantage of such circumstances.

The IRS warns taxpayers to watch for fake promises about large refunds, credits, or payments. A message that says you qualify for a huge refund, need to act right away, or can erase tax problems for a small fee should put you on alert. The IRS says if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Scammers also rely on pressure. They may threaten arrest, demand immediate payment, or try to rush you into sharing your SSN, bank details, or tax login credentials. The goal is to make you react before you think.

3. File Your Taxes Early

Filing early is still one of the simplest ways to reduce fraud risk. 

If a scammer files a return using your SSN before you file your real return, it can create delays and extra work. The IRS says suspicious returns may be held while it asks the taxpayer to verify identity, and the refund will not be processed until that step is completed.  

That is why it is smart to file as soon as you have the records you need, such as W-2s, 1099s, and other tax documents. 

It is also worth considering an Identity Protection PIN, or IP PIN. The IRS says this six-digit number helps prevent someone else from filing a return using your SSN or ITIN. Eligible taxpayers can request one through their IRS online account, and parents or legal guardians can also request one for dependents.

4. Get Savvy About Public Wi-fi Hotspots

Today, the FTC says public Wi-Fi is usually safer than it used to be because many websites now use encryption. Still, that does not mean every connection or every site is safe. A scam site can still look secure, and sensitive information can still be exposed if you use the wrong network or page.

For tax filing, the safer move is to use a trusted home or office network. If you must work while away, use your phone’s hotspot or a VPN, make sure the website uses https, and avoid staying signed in on shared or public devices.

The goal is simple: do not handle tax returns, SSNs, banking details, or client records over a connection you do not trust.

5. Secure Your Network

Tax season security is not only about spotting fake IRS messages. It is also about strengthening your own setup.

It’s not just fake emails or phone calls you need to be aware of online scammers, who are highly active during tax season. So, ensure you follow basic security rules. The FTC recommends keeping your software, browser, apps, and security tools up to date because updates often fix security weaknesses.

Additionally, when you are filing online taxes, select long and complex passwords, along with special characters. Your files should also be encrypted with strong passwords to prevent hackers from accessing the data, in case you are breached. Multi-factor authentication further adds an extra layer of security. CISA also recommends strong passwords, password managers, and multifactor authentication as core steps for protecting accounts.

Wrapping Up

Earlier in the blog series, we have discussed tips that help in preparing better for the tax season followed by a blog that listed the documents for easy and faster tax filing.

With this blog, we suggested the steps that help you secure your tax filing operations. We hope that you find our recommendations worthy. You can share your opinion with us in the comments section below.

Our next blog in this series will cover the reasons why you need cloud accounting for better tax season. To receive notification in your inbox when we publish the blog, please subscribe to our blogs. You can subscribe to our blogs and receive mail in your email inbox whenever we share new updates to help you stay prepared and secure this tax season.