The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers about new IRS phishing scams designed to trick people into surrendering personal or financial information. In these schemes, criminals send an email claiming to be from the U.S. Tax Court, urging recipients to open attachments or click links that can install malware or expose their financial accounts.
The scheme begins with an email claiming to be an official petition from the U.S. Tax Court. Victims are told they must open attachments or click a link to review the case. In reality, the message is a phishing email that can install malware, giving criminals access to financial accounts and other valuable information. Some emails even use scanned images of fake legal forms to appear authentic, while others include requests for wire transfers or direct payments.
The scam is effective because it plays on fear. Many taxpayers worry about disputes with the IRS or possibly losing a tax refund. Fraudsters exploit that urgency, pushing recipients to act quickly before verifying the real message. The IRS has stressed that it does not initiate contact through unsolicited email, social media channels, or text messages. Legitimate communications arrive only by mail.
The Internal Revenue Service places IRS phishing scams and the long-running IRS phone scam among the top threats in its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax fraud schemes. Officials emphasize that the agency never asks for confidential information such as Social Security numbers or PINs through email, social media, or phone.
The U.S. Tax Court also warns that it does not send electronic notices or demand payments online. Any email claiming to be a court petition is fraudulent. Authentic notices, including a case number, official formatting, and instructions for filing a response, are delivered by mail.
On its official website, the court highlights that any suspicious email with threats, demands, or requests for immediate payment should be treated as a scam and deleted. IRS.gov pages are regularly marked with a “page last reviewed or updated” note, signaling taxpayers they are viewing official content.
“Scammers are relentless, and they use the guise of tax season to trick taxpayers into giving up personal or financial information,” said Terry Lemons, senior communications adviser at the Internal Revenue Service, in the agency’s February 2025 announcement. He added that clicking on a phishing email could expose financial information or give criminals access to other financial accounts.
The U.S. Tax Court has also issued warnings on its official website, reminding the public that it “will never send an email claiming to be a petition or demand payment through electronic channels.” The court emphasizes that all real notices are delivered by mail, not by social media or text messages.
Officials stress that anyone who has entered confidential information in response to a scam may face identity theft or fraudulent tax refund claims. “These schemes can drain accounts, misuse valuable information, and cause months or years of disruption,” the IRS cautioned in its recent bulletin.
Falling victim to these scams can result in serious consequences. Taxpayers who respond to a phishing email or open an original email with dangerous links may unknowingly give criminals access to financial accounts or provide confidential information that enables identity theft. Stolen data is often used to file fake tax refund claims, conduct unauthorized wire transfers, or drain other financial accounts. Once thieves have entered confidential information, it can be challenging to undo the damage.
The IRS urges taxpayers not to click attachments or respond to suspicious emails. Instead:
The IRS advises taxpayers to forward screenshots of fraudulent messages if possible, but never resend the email as is with active links. Real notices about taxes, disputes, or a refund are delivered by mail only. Any unsolicited message that includes requests for payment, threatens penalties if not paid, or pressures immediate payment should be treated as a scam.
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