How to Know if it’s Really the IRS Calling or Knocking on Your Door

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Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams. Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, or email to set up individuals, businesses, payroll and tax professionals. The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information.

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

However, there are circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business. These include when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, a delinquent (unfiled) tax return or has not made an employment tax deposit. An IRS employee may also view assets or tour a business as part of a collection investigation, an audit or an ongoing criminal investigation.

Even then, taxpayers will generally first receive several letters (called “notices“) from the IRS in the mail.

Revenue agents carry two forms of official identification, IRS-issued credentials (also called a pocket commission) and a HSPD-12 card. The HSPD-12 card is a government-wide standard form of identification for federal employees. Both forms of identification have serial numbers and photos of the employee – and you can ask to see both. When at a home or place of business, the revenue agent can also provide an additional method to verify their identification upon request.

The IRS does not:

  • Call to demand that a taxpayer use a payment method such as a prepaid debit card or gift card. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.
  • Send text messages or contact people through social media.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed. They will advise you of your rights as a taxpayer.
  • Threaten to bring in local police, immigration officers or other law-enforcement to have you arrested for not paying. The IRS also cannot revoke your driver’s license, business licenses or immigration status. Threats like these are common tactics used by scam artists to trick victims into buying into their schemes.

IRS criminal investigators may visit a taxpayer’s home or business unannounced during an investigation. However, they will not demand any sort of payment.

Scams take many shapes and forms, such as phone calls, letters and emails. Many IRS impersonators use threats to intimidate and bully people into paying a fabricated tax bill. They may even threaten to arrest or deport their would-be victim if they don’t comply.

How To Report Scams: Taxpayers can use these options to report phone, email and other impersonation scams:

  • Report impersonation scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration on the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting webpage. Taxpayers can also call 800-366-4484 to report impersonation scams.
  • Report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
  • Report an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS or an IRS-related system like the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.
  • Protect your community by reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Report fraud to Report Fraud FTC.
  • For a comprehensive listing of recent tax scams, consumer alerts and how to report them, visit Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts.