On Feb. 7, 2019, at the end of the second week of filing season, the IRS issued a warning about an emerging scam. Fraudsters posing as tax professionals were preparing and submitting returns on behalf of unsuspecting paying clients without including their signature and Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), as required by law.
Seven years later, these so-called ghost preparers remain in a prominent spot on the IRS’ annual “dirty dozen” tax scams for 2026.
