March 16, 2026
It's March.
Your accounting team is overwhelmed, your bookkeepers are rushing, deadlines are closing in fast, and inboxes are flooding with urgent emails.
Everyone is heads down, pushing through the peak of tax season.
This scenario is all too familiar.
But it's not just you who notice.
Cybercriminals track this surge closely. Security experts report a near 28% rise in tax-related phishing emails in March, exploiting the chaos with messages crafted to appear as routine business communication at the busiest time of year.
This is no accident.
It's strategic timing.
Here's what's at stake and four effective strategies to shield your business from becoming a victim.
The Pressured Supply Chain
Many overlook this point:
Hackers don't only focus on accounting professionals.
They target the disarray in your workflow.
When tax season ramps up:
- Clients hurriedly send sensitive documents
- Staff skip established procedures to maintain pace
- Requests like "Just send the file" override usual caution
- Verification steps are bypassed due to overwhelmed teams
The entire system accelerates.
And increased speed leads to costly errors.
Cybercriminals don't target calm, cautious businesses.
They prey on the ones caught in the rush.
March is that frantic time.
How These Attacks Unfold
This isn't fiction.
These are emails crafted to look completely normal in your inbox.
- A message "from your accountant" requesting a resend of W-2s due to a transmission error
- A vendor email notifying a change in bank details needing immediate update
- A DocuSign alert for tax documents claiming "signature required today"
- An urgent plea from "your CEO" on a business trip asking for immediate assistance
None of these raise alarms instantly.
They mimic standard business exchanges during tax season.
And that is precisely why they succeed.
Why Busy Professionals Fall Prey
This isn't negligence.
It's human nature.
Overloaded inboxes and pressing deadlines cause people to skim rather than scrutinize. They assume messages are genuine and act quickly.
Scammers exploit this tendency.
Their emails are designed for hurried eyes, slipping past one overlooked detail. They don't rely on reckless behavior—just the busyness of your team.
And in March, everyone fits that profile.
Four Easy Habits to Avoid Becoming a Target
The best part? You don't need complex software or dedicated cybersecurity staff.
Just a few mindful habits during peak season:
1. Confirm payment changes by phone
Don't respond to emails about vendor bank changes. Instead, contact the vendor directly using a trusted phone number to verify.
This simple step stops many costly fraud attempts.
2. Resist rushing sensitive info requests
Urgency is a red flag to pause, not expedite.
If someone demands immediate W-2s or tax files, take time to confirm before sending.
Legitimate requests will tolerate a brief verification; scammers won't.
3. Double-check "urgent" emails via another channel
Call, text, or message internally to validate urgent requests.
A quick two-minute confirmation can prevent serious mistakes.
True emergencies stand up to a secondary check; false alarms do not.
4. Alert your team to be vigilant
Use this week to remind everyone tax season is prime phishing time.
Encourage slowing down, double-checking details, and speaking up about any doubts.
This small culture change can save significant hassle later.
Key Takeaway
Tax season is challenging enough without falling victim to scams.
The attacks you see now are not sophisticated—they rely on timing.
They capitalize on rushing, assumptions, and the drive to get through March.
You don't need an overhaul to defend your business.
Simply slow down when it counts and verify urgent requests.
Often, that's sufficient.
Busy Season Security Check
Your organization may already practice safe habits — if so, excellent.
If tax time sweeps you into reactive mode or you're unsure how your team handles urgent asks, consider a quick sanity check with a no-cost 15-Minute Discovery Call.
No pressure or scare tactics—just a straightforward review of simple steps to avoid big problems this season.
If this isn't relevant to you, please share this with someone who'd benefit.
Click here or give us a call at 720-449-3379 to schedule your free 15-Minute Discovery Call.
