It’s that time of year: Scammers are at it again, impersonating the IRS through text messages. They trick taxpayers into providing sensitive information while falsely claiming this information is needed to receive an Economic Impact Payment. Beware: this is a scam designed to steal taxpayer personal and financial data.

How the Scam Works

Scammers are taking advantage of the IRS’s recent announcement that automatic payments will be issued to eligible individuals who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit or the Economic Impact Payment on their 2021 tax returns. They send fake texts that create a sense of false urgency, making taxpayers believe they must provide sensitive information right away in order to receive their payments.

Remind Your Clients:

  • The IRS will never request personal or financial information through text messages.
  • Eligible taxpayers do not need to take any action to receive their payments.
  • Payments will be automatically deposited into bank accounts or sent via paper check by the end of this month.
  • Official government websites always end in “.gov”. Scammers may use deceptive website addresses ending in “.com” to appear legitimate.

How You and Your Clients Can Protect Themselves:

  • Ignore Unsolicited Texts: If a text claiming to be from the IRS is received and asking for personal or financial information, do not respond.
  • Verify Information: Remind clients to check the official IRS website (www.irs.gov) for updates rather than relying on messages from unknown sources.
  • Report Scams: If you or your client receives a suspicious message, report it to the IRS by forwarding the text to phishing@irs.gov.

Stay Up-to-Date

By staying informed and cautious, you and your clients can be protected from fraud. Most importantly, always remember: if the IRS needs to contact you, they will do so through official channels, not via text messages.

For more information, visit www.irs.gov to ensure you are getting accurate and secure updates. You can always check the TaxAct Professional blog for updates.

This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice.”