The US IRS has revealed a list of 12 tax scams targeting refunds, including a new entry in its 2026 Dirty Dozen list. The most common scam involves fake emails, text messages, and social media posts that appear to be official IRS communications. These phishing and smishing attacks use language and QR codes to route users to counterfeit websites where data is harvested. The IRS logged over 600 social media impersonators in fiscal year 2025 alone. Phone scams use computer-generated voice mimicry, robocalls, and spoofed caller ID numbers that display legitimate-looking IRS phone numbers. Social media "tax hacks" and fake charities prey on your trust, pushing you to file returns with false information or claim credits never qualified for. Identity theft through your IRS online account is a growing threat, with criminals using stolen personal information to access your account. The agency warns against relying on AI-generated tools for complex tax questions, which may trigger audit flags later.