The taxing truth: A state-by-state analysis of tax-time trickery

We are less than a week away from the tax deadline, and McAfee is out with new data on tax season that can help ensure you stay safe this tax season.

With tax return scams on the rise, rushing to get your taxes done before the deadline can be one of the ways you are more vulnerable to becoming a victim of one of these scams.

So, how can you strike the balance of utilizing tax filing software to support you in getting those taxes on time while ensuring you're protecting yourself from the various tax scams that are out there?

Steve Grobman, senior vice president and chief technology officer at McAfee, a cybersecurity company, advises that filing your taxes on time is a key step in avoiding tax scams.

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What are the most common tax scams?

Tax scams have become more sophisticated over the last few years, but they are in no way new. However, with AI becoming more commonplace, scammers can utilize this technology to expedite their malicious scams. These scams can come in many different forms, but some of the most common ones are:

Phone scams: Scammers impersonate IRS officials to solicit back payments or personal information over the phone, using threats of arrest or fines to pressure immediate compliance. They may use fake badge numbers, caller IDs or robocalls enhanced with AI voice-overs.

Phishing email scams: Scammers commit fraud by sending emails or messages pretending to be from tax authorities or reputable tax software companies. They entice recipients to click on links that lead to fake websites designed to steal personal and financial information or directly request sensitive data under the