How the real IRS contacts you
- The first contact is normally a letter sent by the U.S. Postal Service.
- The IRS or its private collection agencies may then call you about account matters. Some calls are automated messages that send you to IRS.gov, without giving details.
- The IRS does not send text messages without your permission, and a direct message on social media is never from the IRS.
The FTC's older guidance is stricter (the IRS will not call about your taxes unless you set up an appointment); the IRS's own current page is the one above. Both agree on the part that matters: neither the IRS nor its debt collectors will threaten to arrest you.
Five signs it is not the IRS
The IRS says a call, email or text is not from it if it:
- is unexpected;
- rushes you;
- threatens you;
- asks for personal or financial information;
- demands payment now.
Impersonators want you to pay “now or else”, threaten arrest or deportation, and do not let you question or appeal the amount. TIGTA's complaint form lists the threats it hears most: immediate arrest, and civil action such as losing your driver's license or having your Social Security number suspended.
How the IRS takes payment
The IRS will not ask you to pay with an iTunes gift card, a prepaid debit card, a money order or a wire transfer, and will not ask for personal or financial information by email, text, letter or social media. If an IRS revenue officer visits and you owe tax, payment is made out to “United States Treasury”, or you can pay online.
Where to report it
- A call: record the number, hang up, and report it to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484 or through its online hotline.
- An email: forward it to phishing@irs.gov with the subject line “IRS”.
- A text: send it to phishing@irs.gov with the subject “Text”, and forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
You can also report the call to the FTC; see how to report a call.
How big the problem is
Between March 2013 and March 2025, 16,281 victims reported to TIGTA that they had lost more than $114 million in total to IRS impersonation scams. TIGTA reports 980 investigations and 251 convictions over the same period.