Many taxpayers have lost their money or sensitive information to tax scams. Mail, phone, and email are all ways scammers trick taxpayers into giving out their personal or tax information. Here are some ways to protect your finances and information this tax season.
Know the warning signs
Remember, if someone pressures you for your personal or tax information, it could be a scam. Scammers often pretend to be government agents or entities to trick you into giving them payments or sensitive information, and they’re more active during tax season.
Keep an eye out for threatening or urgent requests to:
- Pay now,
- Follow a link, or
- Open an attachment.
Scammers don’t let you appeal what they claim you owe. They always want you to “pay now or else” and might even threaten you with arrest or additional fees if you do not pay.
You should also watch out for the “big” refund promise; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Keep these tips in mind
It’s important to always protect your sensitive information, including when choosing a tax preparer. According to the IRS, “some tax return preparers do fraud, identity theft, and scams.” Don’t be afraid to ask questions before you give anyone your sensitive financial or personal information.
We, at the Philadelphia Department of Revenue, won’t ask or pressure you for your username and password or other sensitive information. We will never ask for your username and password OR your Social Security Number (SSN) through email, text messages, or social media.
When verifying a taxpayer’s identity on certain accounts, we may ask for the last four digits of their SSN but that’s only when you call us. For Real Estate Tax, we only need the name or address of the taxpayer to get into their accounts and assist them. If a business taxpayer needs help with their account, we just need their employer identification number (EIN) or account number.
What to do?
Don’t share – whenever you get a suspicious call, email, social media message, or visit from someone claiming to be from the Department of Revenue, don’t share your information. Use this online form to report it to us. Never give anyone your personal or tax information if you don’t trust them or can’t verify their identity.
Always verify – if you receive a notice or letter from Revenue, make sure it’s really us by checking your account activity online. Sign in to your Philadelphia Tax Center profile to verify the notice. You’ll find a copy in your account if it’s from us. You can also verify its legitimacy using the “Respond to a Letter” panel on the Tax Center’s homepage.
Get City tax info from trusted sources – make sure to always visit phila.gov/tax-center-guide and phila.gov/revenue for official information about City taxes, their due dates, filing, and payment frequencies or methods. These online resources are available 24/7 – no waiting or appointments required.
