Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago — As the income tax filing deadline approaches, Attorney General Kwame Raoul today issued guidance to help Illinois residents safely file tax returns and urged people to exercise caution before providing personally-identifying and financial information online.

“Unfortunately, bad actors stand ready to take advantage of consumers during tax season, and it is more important than ever to be cautious when sharing personal information,” Raoul said. “The best way to prevent fraud from taking place is to protect your personal information. I am encouraging people to access free resources to help them make informed choices as we approach the tax filing deadline.”

Wednesday, April 15 is the last day most taxpayers can file their income taxes, and Attorney General Raoul is reminding people to be on the lookout for scam tax preparers and to thoroughly review documents before signing them.

Raoul encourages consumers who need a tax preparer to seek assistance from reputable sources, such as the Taxpayer Advocate Service provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Although the IRS discontinued its free “Direct File” program in 2026, filers with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less in 2025 can still access free tax filing services through private partners. Raoul encourages consumers using the IRS’ private partners to make sure they log in through the IRS’s dedicated website to receive the free filing benefit. Consumers should also pay attention as they work with the IRS’ private partners to make sure that they do not accidentally sign up for the private partners’ pay services.

Raoul is reminding individuals to review documents, including those that require electronic signatures, as scam tax preparers can use e-signatures to attempt to deceptively sign tax documents and consent forms, or to justify charges for expensive, unnecessary services and high fees. Raoul encourages people to ask questions if they do not understand something, and go elsewhere for assistance with filing if the tax preparer will not or cannot provide an answer.

Attorney General Raoul is also warning individuals to protect their personal information, as scammers can steal that information and use it to file tax returns early and even receive any tax refunds owed to the consumer. Victims, especially those who do not file taxes regularly, sometimes do not realize they have been scammed until they receive a written notice from the IRS informing them a duplicate return has been filed. People should immediately contact the IRS if they receive any IRS notices that do not apply to them.

Raoul offered tips to help consumers avoid becoming a victim of tax identity theft:

• Do your research before selecting a tax preparer. Make sure you are using a reputable tax preparer before handing over your personal information. Search online for free, in-person tax preparation assistance.
• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also offers tips and resources for veterans filing tax returns.
• Protect your Social Security number. Don’t give out your Social Security number unless there is a good reason for doing so and only if you know to whom you are providing it.
• Apply for and use an Identity Protection PIN. This six-digit number confirms your identity and prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number. Once you receive your PIN, you must provide it each year when you file your federal tax returns. Visit IRS.gov for more information.
• Check that any correspondence claiming to be sent from the IRS has a phone number and contact information that actually belongs to the IRS.
• With a few exceptions, the IRS needs your permission to email or text you and will never contact you via social media. Be suspicious of any unexpected communications from someone claiming to be from the IRS.
• The IRS will never demand immediate payment via gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, peer-to-peer payment apps or prepaid debit cards, and will not threaten to call immigration or law enforcement on you. These are the hallmarks of a scam. Suspected IRS phone scams can also be reported by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s website and listing “IRS Telephone Scam” in the comments.
• Report unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS, or an IRS-related service like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, to the IRS by emailing phishing@irs.gov.
• Contact the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Unit by calling 866-999-5630.

According to the IRS, tax professionals who engage in remote transactions have been especially vulnerable to identity thieves posing as potential clients who send an attachment that they claim includes their tax information. Once the tax preparer clicks on the URL or opens the attachment, malware secretly downloads onto their computers, giving thieves access to passwords for client accounts or remote access to the computers themselves. Tax professionals have a responsibility to protect taxpayer data by securing their network, and Raoul urges tax professionals to learn how to safeguard that data by reviewing IRS guidance.

Individuals who need to report a complaint involving a tax preparer or tax refund anticipation product should visit the Attorney General’s website or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud hotlines:

1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)
1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)
1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)