IRS phone scams

If you receive an unexpected phone call about your taxes, it’s probably a scam.

Signs of IRS impersonation scams

To trick you, scammers may:

• Give fake names and IRS badge numbers
• Hang up and call you later pretending to be police officers
• Know some details about you (such as the last 4 digits of your Social Security number)
• Make a “robo-call” that tells you to return the call
• Spoof their phone number

Real IRS agents will never:

• Demand immediate payment using a specific method (such as debit card, gift card or wire transfer)
• Threaten to send the police or revoke your driver’s license
• Ask for your credit or debit card number over the phone
• Call about an unexpected refund

If you actually owe taxes, the IRS will usually mail you a bill.

What to do if you receive a suspicious IRS call

If you receive a suspicious IRS call, you should hang up immediately. Do not give any information to the caller.

Next, you should report the call to:

• The IRS. Email details about the call to [email protected]. Use the subject line “IRS Phone Scam.”
• Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Use their website to report an IRS scam or call (800) 366-4484.
• The Federal Trade Commission. Use the FTC's online tool to submit a report. Include “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

What to do if you owe taxes

If you think you may owe taxes, you should:

• Call the IRS. Call (800) 829-1040 to reach real IRS workers. They can help you.
• Check your taxes online. Go to IRS.gov to review your recent tax history.