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IRS Warning: Tax Scams Churches Should Watch For

Published 21 days ago • 1 min read

Hello Reader ,

The IRS recently released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams for 2026, highlighting the most common schemes targeting taxpayers and organizations each year.

While many people assume these scams only affect individuals, churches and ministries can be especially vulnerable—particularly when they handle donations, financial records, and sensitive member information.

Some of the scams the IRS is warning about include:

• Phishing emails that appear to come from trusted organizations
• Impersonation scams where criminals pretend to represent the IRS or other authorities
• Fraudulent charity requests designed to redirect donations

In many cases, these schemes succeed not because the scammers are sophisticated—but because organizations don’t always have strong financial oversight systems in place.

For churches, that can create risks not only financially, but also in terms of trust and stewardship.

We recently recorded a short video explaining three financial scams churches should be aware of and how church leaders can better protect their ministry’s finances.

You can watch it here:

Taking a few minutes to understand these risks can go a long way in helping your church safeguard its resources and continue serving its mission well. Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified whenever we post new legal updates and educational videos that are designed to help inform and protect your ministry.

Blessings!

This email is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, accounting, or tax advice, nor does it create an attorney-client relationship. The information provided here was based on certain federal and/or state statutes and does not encompass all applicable requirements or other regulations that may exist, such as local ordinances or case law.

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The Church Attorney Consulting Services, LLC

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As The Church Attorney®, denominations and churches select my proprietary Legal Audit System to position themselves to operate in integrity, avoid IRS audits, and position themselves for growth. Every church leader should take advantage of my free Church Law podcast and subscribe to my free newsletter.

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