IRS Alerts Taxpayers to Beware of Fake Refund Calculators

The Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers about bogus online tools ahead of the April 15 filing deadline. IRS Alerts Taxpayers to Beware of Fake Refund Calculators as scammers promise inflated refunds.

Filmogaz.com’s Craig Patrick highlighted the issue while reporting on tax season developments. He noted the April 15 deadline is approaching for many filers.

Tax season by the numbers

Through March 27 the IRS received 88.4 million individual income tax returns. That total was down 1.3 percent from the prior year.

The agency processed 87.5 million returns by late March. That figure fell 1.1 percent compared with the same period last year.

As of March 27 the IRS issued more than 62.9 million refunds. The average refund was $3,521, up 11.1 percent or $351 from a year earlier.

The IRS paid $221.697 billion in refunds through March 27. That amount increased 13.6 percent from the previous year.

How fraudsters exploit new tax changes

Scammers have been promoting fake deduction calculators online. They point to provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to gain credibility.

Some tools falsely claim taxpayers qualify for expanded credits or deductions. The IRS received complaints about these tools last fall.

Common tactics

• Show inflated refund amounts to entice clicks and shares.
• Request sensitive data like Social Security numbers or bank details.
• Use lookalike URLs and misspellings to mimic official sites.
• Promise guaranteed big paydays or unusual windfalls.

Protecting your information

Be skeptical of any site that guarantees a large refund. No legitimate service can promise a specific refund amount.

• Avoid tools that demand Social Security numbers or bank accounts to produce estimates.
• Only trust sites ending in .gov for official information and calculators.
• Watch for misspelled URLs like irsgov.com or irs-gov.org.
• Use known tax software providers or the IRS website for calculations.

The IRS offers official tools such as the Tax Withholding Estimator. It also provides a Sales Tax Deduction Calculator and pages on credits and deductions.

If you suspect a scam, do not click links or open attachments. Forward suspicious emails or sites to [email protected] and consider filing complaints with the FTC or TIGTA.

New deductions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

• A deduction for qualifying new car loan interest is available for eligible taxpayers.
• There is a deduction for qualifying tip income for certain workers.
• A deduction covers qualifying overtime pay for those who meet rules.
• Enhanced deductions exist for taxpayers aged 65 and older in qualifying circumstances.

These deductions include complex restrictions and income limits. They are not universally available to all filers.

Use official sources and consult a tax professional if you think you qualify. Rely on verified tools and avoid offers that seem too good to be true.