In this news update, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officially kicked off the 2025 tax filing season yesterday. Authorities anticipate that over 140 million tax returns will be submitted before the federal deadline, set for April 15. The governmental body responsible for overseeing tax compliance has issued a warning to taxpayers. They emphasized that any intentional misrepresentation on their tax return could result in a hefty penalty of USD 5000.
The IRS is serious about enforcing this rule, aiming to ensure fair and accurate tax filings nationwide. Those who knowingly make false claims on their returns should be prepared for these significant fines. The penalty for intentional misrepresentation is USD 5000. This applies to those who knowingly submit incorrect information on their tax returns.
Prioritizing Truthfulness in Tax Declarations
The IRS underscores the crucial importance of maintaining accuracy and truthfulness in tax declarations. Any intentional wrongdoing identified in the filings will result in penalties for the taxpayer. According to the IRS, any claim or filing based on a “position identified as frivolous by the IRS” or intended to delay or obstruct tax administration will be subject to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Penalty 6702 (a).
This penalty amounts to a significant $5,000 for each declaration—or a copy of a declaration—that claims an improper credit with the aforementioned characteristics. In scenarios where a joint declaration is filed with such irregularities, the penalty will be applied to each spouse, regardless of the joint nature of their filing.
The IRS has issued a crucial warning about the rise in scams during the tax filing season. This alert underscores the importance of vigilance as misinformation and deceitful practices tend to surge during this critical time.
Key IRS Warning for the 2025 Tax Season
As a security measure, the IRS will send letters to taxpayers whose returns appear to have been completed by a “ghost preparer.” This term refers to any tax professional who fails to sign the return or include their PTIN, or Preparer Tax Identification Number.
To further safeguard taxpayers, the IRS has intensified its review of specific sections of the Form 1040. Additionally, a new form has been introduced specifically for claiming the Fuel Tax Credit. This initiative aims to protect taxpayers from scams that could potentially endanger their financial security.