Taxes
Tax scams: the IRS does not call, text or email you first
The IRS contacts you by mail first, almost always. It does not call demanding immediate payment, does not threaten arrest, does not text, and does not ask for gift cards, wire transfers or crypto. Any contact that does one of those is a scam. The second kind of tax scam is the "tax relief" company that takes a large fee before learning anything about your case.
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The impersonation call
A recorded voice or a live caller says you owe back taxes, a warrant is being issued, and you must pay now by gift card, wire or crypto to stop it. Caller ID may show "IRS." It is always fake. Hang up. If you are worried you owe something, check your account at irs.gov or call the IRS at the number on its website.
The text and email
"Your refund is ready, click to claim." "Your Economic Impact Payment is pending." The IRS does not send these. The link harvests your Social Security number and bank login. Delete it and report it to phishing@irs.gov.
The "tax relief" ad
Not every firm is a scam, but the pattern to avoid is clear: a guaranteed settlement before anyone has seen your transcripts, a large upfront fee, and pressure to sign today. A legitimate firm investigates first, tells you the real number and your realistic options, and charges for work it has scoped. Ask what credential the person handling your case holds.
The ghost preparer
Someone prepares your return for a fee but does not sign it or include a PTIN, often inflating credits to get a bigger refund. When the IRS audits it, you are the one responsible. Every paid preparer must sign and include their PTIN.
Questions people ask
- Does the IRS ever call?
- After it has written to you, yes, in some situations, and revenue officers can visit. But the first contact about a balance is a letter, and the IRS never demands payment by gift card, wire or crypto.
- How do I know if a tax letter is real?
- Real notices have a notice number (CP14, LT11) and match what you see when you log in at irs.gov/account. If the letter asks you to call a number, compare it to the number on irs.gov.