The IRS Warns Against These Tax Scams

It's tax season and that means tracking down all your forms, maximizing your write-offs with things like the mileage deduction and potentially getting a refund. The scammers are also out in force this time of year.

Here are some common tax scams the IRS has rounded up and some tips on how to avoid them.

Phone Call Scams

There are thousands of scammers who try to trick people over the phone every year. This often involves somebody claiming you owe taxes or penalties and if you don't pay quickly, you'll be faced with punitive measures—including jail.

What's insidious about this is that the scammers can have legitimate information about you including your name, address or Social Security number.

The IRS will never:

• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the chance to question or appeal the amount they say you owe
• Require a certain payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card
• Call you about taxes you owe without first mailing you an official IRS notice
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone
• Threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement to have you arrested for not paying.