Tax scams

Tax scammers pose as IRS or Treasury officials, promise large refunds, or pressure you to “pay immediately.” Immigrants are often targeted; scammers threaten arrest or deportation. On this page, you will find the warning signs of scams, how the IRS actually contacts you, where to report fake emails, messages, and calls, and the steps to take in cases of identity theft.

• Promise of a “very large refund”: If it seems too good to be true, it is probably a scam. False tax advice on social media may lead you to enter incorrect information on forms.
• Pressure and threats: People impersonating the IRS pressure you to “pay immediately, or else”; threaten arrest or deportation and do not allow you to dispute the debt. These are signs of a scam.
• Strange links: Do not click strange or misspelled links. The only official website is irs.gov.
• Insistence on a specific payment method: The IRS does not call to demand immediate payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, or wire transfer.
• Requesting personal information: Scammers ask for your personal, financial, or employment-related information.
• Do not trust social media advice promising a “very large refund.” The IRS says refunds may be delayed for people who claim incorrect credits because of this type of advice, and the matter could lead to an audit and penalties.

• The IRS makes most initial contact by mail (U.S. Postal Service). You will usually receive several letters before a call or visit.
• The IRS does not email you without your permission, does not send text messages without your permission, and does not send private messages through social media.
• IRS employees may call or visit in cases such as overdue tax debt, an unfiled return, or an audit. Auditors send a notice by mail first.
• An IRS employee visiting you will show two official forms of identification: a “pocket commission” and an HSPD-12 card. You have the right to see them.
• The IRS requires payments to be made only payable to the “United States Treasury”. Payment methods are listed at irs.gov/payments.
• The IRS may assign some debts to private collection agencies. It will notify you and your representative in writing first. These companies do not request payment by gift card or prepaid card. Checks are made payable to the IRS, or “U.S. Treasury,” and are not sent to the collection agency.
• IRS criminal investigators may arrive without notice, but they will never request payment.
• You can search the IRS notices and letters page to determine whether an IRS letter you received is genuine, or call +1 800 829 1040 to verify it.

• False advice on social media: Posts recommending nonexistent credits or fraudulent W-2 arrangements. The IRS warns about false claims involving the fuel tax credit, the sick and family leave credit, and the nonexistent “freelancer tax credit.”
• Dishonest tax return preparers: Do not trust a preparer who:
  • does not sign the return
  • falsifies information
  • has your refund deposited into their own bank account
  • asks for cash and does not provide a receipt
• Tax debt “elimination” services: People who rush you with promises to settle your debt for “pennies.” If you qualify, you can settle your debt directly with the IRS through an offer in compromise.
• Fake refund or debt letters: Mail claiming that you have an “unclaimed refund” or reporting a fake tax debt.
• Fake charities: Your donation does not go where you think it does; donations to a fake organization are not tax-deductible.
• Paid EIN websites: An EIN is free from the IRS. Dispute the charge with your bank and report the site to the FTC. See 14.3.
• Form W-8BEN scams: Fake “W-8BEN” requests sent by fax, email, or mail to people outside the United States. Report them to phishing@irs.gov with “W8-BEN” in the subject line.
• Scams targeting older adults: Scams directed at people over 65 or those approaching retirement; withdrawing money from a retirement account may also have tax consequences.

• Fake email
  • Do not reply, click any links, or open attachments.
  • Send the email to phishing@irs.gov. Put “IRS” in the subject line (or “Treasury” if it concerns the Treasury). Forward the email as an attachment (“Forward as attachment”); regular forwarding removes important data.
  • Then delete the email. You may also report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• Fake text message
  • Do not reply or click any links.
  • Send it to phishing@irs.gov with “Text” in the subject line, including the sender’s number, message text, your number, the date, time, and time zone.
  • Forward the message to 7726 (SPAM); your carrier can block similar messages.
• Suspicious phone call
  • Write down the number and hang up.
  • Report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA): use the online form or call +1 800 366 4484.
  • You may also report it to the FTC; write “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
• Social media account: Report it to the platform; send the account’s full address to phishing@irs.gov with “Social media” in the subject line.
• Fake letter: Verify it first on the IRS notices page. If it is a scam, report it to the U.S. Postal Service, the FTC, and the consumer protection unit of your state attorney general’s office.
• Internet scam: The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

1. Stop communicating with the scammer immediately. Do not send money or provide information.
2. Call your bank or credit card company.
3. Follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov. If your SSN or ITIN was stolen, report it there and to the IRS. Consider also reporting it to your state tax department.
4. If someone filed a return in your name (your electronic return is rejected because “a return has already been filed with this number”):
   • File your return anyway and pay your tax due.
   • Complete Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) online or by mail. If you have already reported it through IdentityTheft.gov, do not file it separately.
   • Use Form 4506-F to request a copy of the fraudulent return.
5. If you received a W-2 or 1099 from an employer you do not recognize: Do not include this income on your return; contact the Social Security Administration (SSA).
6. IRS identity verification hotline: If these steps do not resolve the problem, call +1 800 908 4490 (7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., U.S. Eastern Time). You cannot check refund status through this line; for tax account questions, call +1 800 829 1040.
7. Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN):
   • It is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a return using your SSN or ITIN.
   • Anyone with an SSN or ITIN who can verify their identity may get one. Parents may also request one for their children.
   • The fastest way is through your IRS online account.
   • If you cannot create an online account and the AGI on your most recent return was below $84,000 for individuals or $168,000 for joint returns, you can apply using Form 15227. The IRS will call you to verify your identity; the PIN will arrive by mail in 4–6 weeks.
   • If these options do not work, you can verify your identity in person at an IRS office (TAC).
   • The PIN is renewed every year. The IRS will never ask you for your IP PIN; any call, email, or message asking for it is a scam.
8. If your preparer scammed you: File a complaint using Form 14157. If your refund was diverted to another account or a return was filed without your permission, request correction of your account using Form 14157-A.

• Calling the number provided by the caller to “verify” the call. Use the IRS’s own number (+1 800 829 1040) for verification.
• Paying a “tax debt” with a gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
• Forwarding a fake email normally; important data is lost if it is not forwarded as an attachment.
• Including income from a W-2 issued by an employer you do not recognize on your return.
• Working with a preparer who does not sign the return or deposits the refund into their own account.
• Giving your IP PIN to someone by phone or text message.
• Panicking and making a payment because of an immigration threat.

• The IRS called me and asked me to pay immediately with a gift card. This is a scam. Hang up, write down the number, and report it to TIGTA (+1 800 366 4484).
• They said, “If you don’t pay, your immigration status will be canceled.” The IRS cannot cancel your immigration status. This is a sign of a scam.
• I received an email from the IRS. Could it be real? The IRS does not email you without your permission. Forward the email as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov.
• How do I pay if I really owe taxes? Pay using the methods on the IRS payment page, payable to the “United States Treasury.”
• Someone filed a return in my name. What should I do? File your return, complete Form 14039, follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov, and get an IP PIN.
• I am in Turkey; I received a W-8BEN fax said to be from the IRS. Report it to phishing@irs.gov with “W8-BEN” in the subject line and notify TIGTA.
• Where can I learn more about scam warnings? See 1.12 Scam warnings.

• Form 14039: Identity Theft Affidavit (PDF)
• Form 15227: IP PIN application (PDF)
• Form 14157: Tax return preparer complaint (PDF)
• Publication 5027: Identity theft information for taxpayers (PDF)
• IRS – Get an Identity Protection PIN
• IRS – Verify notices and letters
• TIGTA – Report fraud
• FTC – Report fraud
• IdentityTheft.gov
• IC3 – Internet crime complaint
• IRS – Ways to pay taxes