Pantana CPA 12 Scams to watch for
Every year the IRS releases a “Dirty Dozen” list of the most common tax scams and abusive schemes it’s seeing in the real world. The name may sound like a headline grabber and sure, it gets attention, but from our seat at Pantana CPA, the list is genuinely useful. It’s a snapshot of where taxpayers and businesses are getting hurt right now, and it highlights the areas the IRS is watching most closely.
Below we’ll walk through the 2025 Dirty Dozen items, what they look like in practice, and simple ways to avoid getting pulled in.
The 2025 Dirty Dozen: 12 scams to watch for
The IRS’s 2025 list focuses heavily on identity theft, fake credits, and social-media-driven misinformation. Here’s what made this year’s cut:
- Email phishing scams
Fraudsters pose as the IRS, state agencies, banks, or tax software companies to trick you into clicking links or sharing personal data. These emails often promise a refund or threaten legal action. - Bad social media advice
TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook are overflowing with “tax hacks” that range from misleading to outright fraudulent, especially around refunds and credits. Taking this advice can trigger audits or penalties. - IRS Individual Online Account “help” from scammers
Scammers offer to “help” you set up an IRS online account, then steal the information needed to file returns in your name. The IRS doesn’t require third-party help for account setup. - Fake charities
These spike after disasters or major news events. Fake organizations solicit donations, then use your payment and identity info for theft. Only donations to IRS-qualified charities count for deductions. - False Fuel Tax Credit claims
The fuel tax credit is for off-highway business/farming use, but promoters push people to claim it improperly on Form 4136 to inflate refunds. - Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave abuse (Form 7202)
This credit applies only to certain self-employed taxpayers for 2020–2021 pandemic periods. The IRS is seeing people wrongly claim it for later years or based on employee wages. - Bogus “self-employment tax credit”
A made-up credit marketed online as worth up to $32,000. It’s often a misrepresentation of the very limited sick/family leave credit above. - Improper household employment taxes (Schedule H scams)
Taxpayers invent household employees and fake wages to claim refunds using Schedule H. - The overstated withholding scam
Social media schemes encouraging people to falsify Forms W-2/1099 with huge fake withholding amounts to chase a refund. The IRS is flagging these quickly. - Misleading Offers in Compromise “mills”
Aggressive marketers promise they can wipe out tax debt through Offers in Compromise even when you don’t qualify, often charging large upfront fees. - “Ghost” tax return preparers
These preparers won’t sign the return or include their PTIN, leaving you holding the bag if something’s wrong. A legit preparer always signs. - New-client scams & spear phishing targeting tax pros
Fake “new clients” email tax professionals with malicious links or attachments to steal data. This is a reminder that strong cybersecurity protects your return too.
Why the Dirty Dozen isn’t “just a gimmick”
From the IRS perspective, the Dirty Dozen is a public warning system. When a strategy or scam lands on the list, it’s a signal of two things:
- Taxpayers are actively being targeted right now.
- The IRS is actively auditing and enforcing in this area.
Some items are straight-up fraud (phishing, fake charities). Others involve credits or filings that can be legitimate, but are being abused at scale (fuel tax credit, sick/family leave credit). That “abuse risk” is exactly why these areas draw extra IRS scrutiny.
Reporting abusive schemes and shady preparers
If you run into a promoter pushing one of these scams or a preparer trying to file something you know isn’t right, the IRS wants to hear about it. They specifically point people to Form 14242 (Report Suspected Abusive Tax Promotions or Preparers).
Reporting helps shut down repeat offenders and protects other taxpayers from falling into the same trap.
Real-world takeaways for Pantana clients
Here’s what we recommend you do every year, not just during filing season:
- Slow down on “too good to be true” credits.
If you’re being promised a huge refund because everyone qualifies… they’re almost always wrong. - Treat tax texts/emails as hostile by default.
The IRS generally initiates contact via mail, not surprise email or text. - Verify charities before giving.
If you want the deduction, confirm IRS-qualified status first. - Work only with preparers who sign the return.
No signature = no accountability. Pantana CPA, reviews and signs every tax return. - Ignore viral tax hacks. Ask us instead.
A 30-second TikTok can cost years of audits and penalties.
Bottom line
The Dirty Dozen isn’t meant to scare you, it’s meant to arm you. Every scam on the IRS list represents real taxpayers who lost money, had identities stolen, or faced audits because something sounded easy.
If you’ve been approached about a credit, deduction, trust, or “refund strategy” that feels aggressive, talk to Pantana CPA before filing. We’ll help you verify eligibility, document it properly, and stay on the right side of IRS enforcement.
When in doubt, ask first. It’s always cheaper than fixing it later or ending up in an orange jumpsuit.
