April 10, 2023 1:08 am

Dirty Dozen Tax Scams

Late in March 2023, the IRS began announcing the annual list of 12 tax scams and schemes that taxpayers should avoid during tax season and throughout the year. The scams noted this year are not dramatically different from those in prior years. They include:

  1. Erroneous employee retention credits claimed through ERC mills (IR-2023-49)
  2. Scammers using email and text messages to trick people during tax season (IR-2023-51)
  3. Scammers offering “help” to set up online IRS accounts (IR-2023-54)
  4. Third-party promoters of false fuel tax credit claims (IR-2023-55)
  5. Fake charities (IR-2023-57)
  6. Shady tax return preparers (IR-2023-59)
  7. Tax schemes promoted on social media encouraging false claims (IR-2023-61)
  8. Spearfishing aimed at tax pros and businesses (IR-2023-62)
  9. Offer-in-compromise mills (IR-2023-63)
  10. Schemes aimed at high-income taxpayers (e.g., charitable remainder trusts; monetized installment sales carry) (IR-2023-65)
  11. Abusive tax avoidance schemes (IR-2023-67)
  12. Schemes with international elements (IR-2023-71)
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Tax Glossary

Revenue ruling

A revenue ruling is the Commissioner’s “official interpretation of the interpretation of the law” and generally is binding on revenue agents and other IRS officials. Taxpayers generally may rely on published revenue rulings in determining the tax treatment of their own transactions that arise out of similar facts and circumstances.

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