Tax Season Is a Cybersecurity Season for SMBs
How fake IRS, payroll, and refund scams turn routine finance work into risk For many small businesses, tax season feels administrative. Deadlines. Payroll records. W-2s. accountant emails. refund questions. vendor paperwork. year-end cleanup. finance teams moving quickly because the calendar leaves very little room not to. That is exactly why attackers like it. Tax season is no longer just a filing season. It is a scam season, a phishing season, and a cyber risk season for small businesses. In March 2026, the IRS released its annual Dirty Dozen list and warned that this year’s scams threaten the tax and financial information of taxpayers, businesses, and tax professionals . The IRS specifically highlighted IRS impersonation by email and text, AI-enabled impersonation by phone, QR-code lures, and malicious links or attachments that can steal data or install malware. IRS Dirty Dozen 2026 That should get the attention of every small business owner. Because during tax season, ...