The Internal Revenue Service advises each year there are a number of tax scams. According to the IRS, in the last fiscal year they initiated 776 identity theft related investigations, with 774 resulting in sentencing, with the average amount of jail time at 38 months.

One local report of theft of income tax money was reported to the IRS. According to the Washington County Sheriff’s report, one person called in the theft of their 2014 tax refund, which allegedly went to someone else’s account.

To fight theft and identity fraud, the IRS established safeguards. One change, includes having a minimum eight-digit password and security questions as standards for private-sector tax software accounts. The Iowa Department of Revenue reminds taxpayers they will only contact someone by mail, not by email, text or social media.