Tax Season is Open

— and Cybercriminals Are Ready to Strike

February means more than filing deadlines — it means a spike in cyber scams targeting businesses. As employers prepare payroll, W-2s, and sensitive financial data, cybercriminals are laying traps designed to steal information, hijack systems, and commit identity fraud.

Let’s break down the risks your business faces this tax season — and what you can do to protect your people and your data.

Tax Season Isn’t Just Stressful — It’s Profitable for Scammers

Cybercriminals often use tax-themed lures because of urgency and high value:

• According to a study by Keepnet, phishing emails mimicking government and tax agencies increased by around 35%, making tax-related scams more common than ever before.

  
  

• More than 2.4 million people in the U.S. have been targeted by IRS impersonators, collectively losing tens of millions of dollars to fraud according to this article by ID Watchdog. 

Tax scams aren’t just about refund theft — they’re about credibility hijacking. Once criminals get inside a business email system, they can launch phishing attacks from trusted addresses, steal payroll information, or even compromise entire networks.

Why Small and Mid-Sized Businesses Are at Risk

Most business owners know that tax season puts pressure on HR and finance teams, but fewer realize how scammers exploit that pressure:

Social Engineering Is the #1 Tool

Attackers often impersonate executives or trusted partners in emails requesting W-2s, employee SSNs, or other sensitive records. Once that data is handed over, criminals can:

This tactic — called Business Email Compromise (BEC) — continues to be one of the

costliest cybercrimes for business owners and HR teams.

Phishing Is Becoming More Convincing

Advanced social engineering, personalized messages, and even AI-generated content make scams harder to spot than ever. Criminals can craft emails that look and sound official, increasing the chances that an employee clicks a link or opens an attachment.

Common Tax Season Scam Tactics

Here are scams MSPs and IT pros are seeing escalate during filing season:

• Fake IRS emails or SMS messages claiming your return is delayed or your refund is

  ready

• Impersonated executives requesting payroll or W-2 files

• Malicious attachments disguised as tax forms

• Spoofed login pages to capture credentials

• Deepfake or cloned caller scams with urgent threats or refund promises

Scammers will stop at almost nothing to get a foothold. Many of these themes are featured on the IRS’s Dirty Dozen list of common tax scams each year.

How to Protect Your Business (Practical Checklist)

Here’s what every business should implement before April 15:

1. Require Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA stops most account-takeover attempts because attackers need more than just a stolen password to get in — especially for email and payroll systems.

2. Train Your Team on Scam Red Flags

Teach employees to spot:

• Urgent language

• Unsolicited requests for sensitive data

• Suspicious attachments or links

• Unexpected emails that seem like they’re from executives

This is especially important for HR/payroll teams handling W-2s and SSNs.

3. Verify Requests Before Acting

Even if a message looks legitimate:

• Call the sender using a verified number

• Confirm the request through internal channels

• Treat any tax-related email with skepticism unless it’s expected

4. Monitor for Suspicious Login Activity

Unusual logins — especially from new locations or unfamiliar devices — can be an early sign of credential compromise.

5. Update Your Incident Response Plan

Ensure your team knows:

• Who to notify internally if a scam is suspected

• How to contain a potential breach

• Where to report fraud (including the IRS and FTC)

Final Thoughts: Proactive Beats Reactive

Every February, hackers know one thing: businesses have their heads in tax forms, not security logs. That’s exactly when they strike.

By tightening basic defenses, educating your people, and verifying before you trust, you dramatically reduce your risk. Don’t wait for a breach to take security seriously — tax season provides the deadline you need.

If you’re unsure whether your systems are secure this tax season, RIATA can help with:

• A security readiness review

• MFA rollout and enforcement

• Phishing simulation and employee training

• Ongoing monitoring and threat protection

Schedule a 15-minute consultation to identify gaps before the scammers do.

---

About RIATA Technologies

At RIATA Technologies, we help small and mid-sized businesses simplify cybersecurity and IT support—without the jargon or the enterprise-sized budgets.

From managed IT services to cybersecurity guidance. We make sure your company stays protected, compliant, and confident.

Smarter IT. Stronger Security. Seamless Cloud.

About the Author:Tommy Wald is the CEO of RIATA Technologies, a Managed IT Services Provider headquartered in Austin, TX. He can be reached at TWald@RiataTechnologies.com or (737) 249-9697.