Taxpayer Scams

Be wary of phone calls "from the IRS"

Scrutinize web addresses sent via email

Report suspicious activity to the IRS

Tax season is the prime season for these scams.

These fraudsters attack online and over the phone.

The following are the most common scams, as posted on the IRS’s Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts webpage.

IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scams

An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license.

Note that the IRS will never:

  • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
  • Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

IRS-Impersonation Telephone Scams

An aggressive and sophisticated phone scam targeting taxpayers. Callers claim to be employees of the IRS, but are not. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are then threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or driver’s license.

Note that the IRS will never:

  • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
  • Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Email Phishing Scam: "Update your IRS e-file"

The IRS is aware of email phishing scams that appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus website intended to mirror the official IRS website. These emails contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” The emails mention USA.gov and IRSgov (without a dot between "IRS" and "gov"), though notably, not IRS.gov (with a dot). Don’t get scammed. These emails are not from the IRS.

What do you do if you get these messages?

  • Do not respond to the email or click on the links.

  • Instead, they should forward the scam emails to the IRS at [email protected].

Remember, the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.

Email Phishing Scam: "Update your IRS e-file"

The IRS is aware of email phishing scams that appear to be from the IRS and include a link to a bogus website intended to mirror the official IRS website. These emails contain the direction “you are to update your IRS e-file immediately.” The emails mention USA.gov and IRSgov (without a dot between "IRS" and "gov"), though notably, not IRS.gov (with a dot). Don’t get scammed. These emails are not from the IRS.

What do you do if you get these messages?

  • Do not respond to the email or click on the links.

  • Instead, they should forward the scam emails to the IRS at [email protected].

Remember, the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information.

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