Taxing times: Top IRS scams to look out for in 2026

This advisory highlights the increased risk of cybercriminal activity surrounding the 2026 tax filing season. Threat actors are leveraging the urgency of tax deadlines to conduct IRS-themed scams, targeting individuals and businesses during this stressful period. While specific malware families or attributed threat groups are not identified in this report, the primary threat vector involves social engineering and phishing campaigns designed to steal sensitive financial information or credentials. The potential impact includes financial loss, identity theft, and compromised personal data affecting victims. Organizations and individuals are urged to remain vigilant against unsolicited communications claiming to be from the IRS. Effective mitigation strategies include verifying sender authenticity, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and utilizing multi-factor authentication on accounts. Users should report suspected scams to appropriate authorities. This warning underscores the seasonal spike in fraud attempts requiring heightened security awareness and defensive measures for protection during the tax filing period.

It’s time to file your tax return. And cybercriminals are lurking to make an already stressful period even more edgy.

This advisory highlights the increased risk of cybercriminal activity surrounding the 2026 tax filing season. Threat actors are leveraging the urgency of tax deadlines to conduct IRS-themed scams, targeting individuals and businesses during this stressful period. While specific malware families or attributed threat groups are not identified in this report, the primary threat vector involves social engineering and phishing campaigns designed to steal sensitive financial information or credentials. The potential impact includes financial loss, identity theft, and compromised personal data affecting victims. Organizations and individuals are urged to remain vigilant against unsolicited communications claiming to be from the IRS. Effective mitigation strategies include verifying sender authenticity, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and utilizing multi-factor authentication on accounts. Users should report suspected scams to appropriate authorities. This warning underscores the seasonal spike in fraud attempts requiring heightened security awareness and defensive measures for protection during the tax filing period. It’s time to file your tax return. And cybercriminals are lurking to make an already stressful period even more edgy. It’s time to file your tax return. And cybercriminals are lurking to make an already stressful period even more edgy.