Tax season is here and the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office has issued a warning to taxpayers.

Abusive tax schemes and filing season scams are often presented as easy ways to reduce federal tax obligations. Filing a false tax return or conspiring with others to file false returns can result in felony convictions, prison time and thousands of dollars in fines. Taxpayers should be wary of any tactic that sounds too good to be true.

Tips to Avoid Tax Scams: Ignore social media posts claiming, “Put your money in a trust and never pay taxes again” or “I don’t pay taxes — why should you?”

Beware of promoters who reference the ultra-wealthy with statements like “Control everything and owe nothing.” Review IRS Publication 3995 before entering into any agreement with a tax scheme promoter.

Avoid preparers who promise large refunds or charge fees based on refund amounts. Ensure your preparer provides a PTIN and gives you a copy of your return. Never sign a blank tax return, and make sure your refund goes to your account, not your preparer’s.

Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders claiming to be the IRS.

Choose a vetted tax preparer at http://www.irs.gov/chooseataxpro and report illegal activity via the Tax Preparer Complaint form at http://www.irs.gov/dmaf/form/f14157.

For more information or to report suspected fraud, visit IRS Criminal Investigation or contact the Oakland Field Office at OaklandFieldOffice@ci.irs.gov. IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for investigating financial crimes including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, health care fraud and identity theft.