It’s tax time; beware the IRS’s “Dirty Dozen” tax scams.

It’s tax filing season; that means it’s also tax filing scam season and the IRS has just released its list of the top 12 tax scams for 2018 (IR-2018-66, March 21, 2018). These scams run the gamut from phishing and telephone scams to identity theft and submitting false returns to more sophisticated schemes like abusive tax shelters and off-shore tax avoidance schemes. The IRS has a special section  on its website devoted to the “Dirty Dozen” tax scams for 2018 and prior years with links to detailed discussions of each of these scams and how to protect yourself. Go there and learn how to protect yourself now and just remember, the IRS will never initiate contact with you by email or ask you for a payment over the telephone. If there is a problem with your return or you owe the IRS money, you will receive written notice in the mail at the address listed on your return.