The IRS has released its annual “Dirty Dozen” tax scams for 2026, warning of a surge in sophisticated phishing, smishing, and AI-enabled phone spoofing campaigns designed to steal personal identity data and tax refunds. Fraudsters are increasingly using realistic email and text messages that impersonate the IRS, complete with QR codes leading to fake portals, to capture sensitive credentials. To protect your personal information and prevent devastating identity theft, it is crucial to remain vigilant against unsolicited tax-related communications. If you receive any suspicious tax notices or emails claiming to be from the IRS, forward them to emailSONAR’s AI-powered platform to instantly verify their authenticity and stay alert.