This year, the IRS dropped the 2026 Dirty Dozen on National “Slam the Scam” Day — not because it’s cute branding, but because the scams are evolving faster than most people realize.
Estimated read time: ~6 minutes.
Every year, the IRS publishes its “Dirty Dozen” list — the worst tax scams they saw spreading in the wild. It’s part of the broader Security Summit campaign (IRS + state tax agencies + the tax industry) built to stop identity theft and fraud.
And here’s the scary part:
Tax season doesn’t just bring refunds.
It brings predators.
Because April isn’t only when people file returns — it’s when people panic, rush, click, and overshare.
So let’s break it down in plain English: what the IRS says scammers are doing right now, and how to protect your family’s money, identity, and legacy.
🚨 May 6th Seminar (very limited seating)
If you want a clear, real-world playbook for protecting your assets (and your family) from the kinds of financial traps that show up during tax season, join our May 6th In-Person Wills, Living Trusts & Asset Protection Seminar. 🚨 Very limited seating:
https://collinslawgroup.com/webinar/in-person-seminar-wills-living-trusts-asset-protection-may-2026/
1) The new “IRS message” scam is designed to trigger panic
The IRS says scammers are sending emails, texts, and direct messages that look like they’re from the IRS — often with alarming language and even QR codes that push you to a fake website to “verify” your account or “claim” a refund.
That’s not an accident.
Scammers don’t want you thinking.
They want you reacting.
And the IRS is clear about one key rule: they generally initiate contact by mail, not by text, email, or DM.
If you remember one thing: don’t click. Don’t scan. Don’t “verify.”
2) AI impersonation is now a top-tier threat
This is where it gets truly jarring.
The IRS says AI-enabled IRS impersonators are using robocalls, voice mimicry, and spoofed caller IDs to sound convincing — and these scams are expected to keep evolving.
Meaning: you can’t rely on your ears anymore.
A call can sound “official.”
It can sound “urgent.”
It can even sound like a real human who knows your name.
The IRS warning is simple: they do not leave threatening prerecorded messages demanding immediate payment or threatening arrest.
3) “Spearphishing” is how tax pros and businesses get wiped out
The Dirty Dozen isn’t only about individual taxpayers.
One of the biggest risks is spearphishing — phishing targeted at a specific firm or person. The IRS warns that tax pros and businesses are getting “new client” emails or “document request” messages loaded with malicious links/attachments.
And once a scammer gets access, it’s not just one victim.
It’s everyone connected to that inbox: client data, Social Security numbers, tax returns, identity theft — and fraudulent filings.
This isn’t paranoia. It’s modern crime.
🚨 IN PERSON – May 6th Seminar (very limited seating)
Tax scams are one side of the problem. The other side is what happens when families don’t have structure — the right decision-makers, the right protections, and the right plan. That’s exactly what we cover on May 6. 🚨 Very limited seating:
https://collinslawgroup.com/webinar/in-person-seminar-wills-living-trusts-asset-protection-may-2026/
4) Account takeover: “helpers” who steal your IRS online access
Another scam the IRS highlights: criminals stealing personal information to gain unauthorized access to a taxpayer’s IRS online account — sometimes even posing as a “helper” during setup to collect the data.
Once someone has that access, they can misuse what’s inside: sensitive tax info, transcripts, and identity data.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to create their own accounts directly and be skeptical of unsolicited help.
5) “Ghost preparers” and social-media “tax hacks”
The IRS also flags ghost preparers — preparers who won’t sign the return, base fees on the size of your refund, or skip providing their PTIN.
And then there’s the chaos machine: social media “tax hacks.”
The IRS warns that misleading advice spreads fast online — encouraging people to file incorrect returns or claim credits they don’t qualify for, leading to delays, audits, penalties, and potentially worse.
If it sounds too good to be true, it’s usually not a loophole.
It’s bait.
✅ On Demand CTA #1 (watch privately)
If you can’t make an in-person seminar, start with the education On Demand and watch at your own pace:
https://zoom.us/rec/play/ib4JGJqmAR0OAewic1paUCjG-6d6oNz1QgABI4djgKALnmzLLSmtaoEIM_zLpgb7JTARVNqBW2aNLVCc.wBaUBbCpUN2Eu-OR?autoplay=true&startTime=1691504775000
6) Fake credits, fake charities, fake “Offer in Compromise” mills
The Dirty Dozen also includes scams built around fraudulent credits and fake charities, especially after disasters, when people want to help and scammers want to harvest donations and personal info.
It also flags Offer in Compromise mills — promoters who convince taxpayers they qualify for an IRS settlement when they don’t, charging thousands for a dead-end application.
This is the part that should make you angry:
These scams don’t just steal money.
They steal hope.
The real takeaway: tax fraud is also an estate-planning issue
Here’s what most people miss:
Tax scams are identity scams.
Identity scams become banking scams.
Banking scams become asset-loss and family-crisis events.
And when families don’t have the right structure — the right decision-makers, the right trust administration plan, the right authority and safeguards — the damage spreads.
The IRS Dirty Dozen is a reminder that in 2026, your financial life is a target.
Your plan should be built like it.
🚨 IN PERSON – May 6th Seminar (very limited seating)
If you want to protect what you’ve built — and make it harder for chaos (or scammers) to touch your family — join us May 6. 🚨 Very limited seating:
https://collinslawgroup.com/webinar/in-person-seminar-wills-living-trusts-asset-protection-may-2026/
✅ On Demand CTA #2 (registration/access page)
Prefer the official On Demand access page (especially if you’re sharing with family)? Use this link:
https://zoom.us/rec/component-page?eagerLoadZvaPages=sidemenu.billing.plan_management&accessLevel=&hasValidToken=false&clusterId=us02&action=play&filePlayId=Rs1bWtfp2kDuAm7dj6KI9lCV4PGVvPSINsjh0T3pR61oBd8nGCvqUG32UPYxS-Fv62eXQYQEbyHeQVm0.7nSjhK5rBjJJcLSe&componentName=recording-register&meetingId=7Bf3hbiE5TE9coo0DNt28cLE4WUvwRhgxwsJCxgefo1_kWZ1wso8J90snz3pwvo_.mnOcXkamQqkf083x&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Frec%2Fplay%2Fib4JGJqmAR0OAewic1paUCjG-6d6oNz1QgABI4djgKALnmzLLSmtaoEIM_zLpgb7JTARVNqBW2aNLVCc.wBaUBbCpUN2Eu-OR%3Fautoplay%3Dtrue%26startTime%3D1691504775000
Bottom line
The IRS Dirty Dozen is not trivia. It’s a warning label.
Tax season is when people click the wrong link, trust the wrong voice, and hand over the exact information scammers need to steal identities, refunds, and futures.
Don’t wait until you’re cleaning up a mess to learn the system.
🚨 IN PERSON – May 6 Seminar (very limited seating)
If you want the protection framework — for your assets, your family, and your legacy — reserve your seat for May 6 now. 🚨 Very limited seating:
https://collinslawgroup.com/webinar/in-person-seminar-wills-living-trusts-asset-protection-may-2026/
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