As we enter into the annual income tax filing season, International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) wants to remind community members to be on the alert for tax scams, which are especially common during this time of year.

Tax scams can take different forms, but typically involve criminals trying to gain your personal information and/or obtaining money through illegal means. Scams can include impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents claiming that you need to pay tax penalties, filing tax forms to claim tax refunds that are owed to you, and other similar actions.

The Internal Revenue Services has a dedicated webpage on common tax scams that we encourage you to read. Among their recommendations include the following:

• Do not respond to phone calls or messages claiming to be from the IRS, especially if they are asking you for your personal information (including Social Security Numbers or bank account information) or demanding immediate payment. The IRS typically sends tax bills through the mail, not over the phone.
• Do not make any payments without consulting a tax specialist first, especially if the payment methods are unusual, such as purchasing debit or gift cards.
• Do not provide credit or debit card information over the phone
• Be cautious of text messages from unknown numbers, as these may involving phishing.

During this season, always take extra care to avoid scams. Contact ISSS if you have any questions.