The IRS will contact you by mail first, not by phone

The Internal Revenue Service does not initiate contact by phone, email, or text message. If someone calls claiming to be from the IRS, it is a scam. The IRS's first move is always a letter sent to your address on file. That letter arrives by postal mail and includes a specific reason for contact—usually a notice about a tax return you filed, a balance owed, or a discrepancy they found.

The only time the IRS might call you is after you have already received a letter and you called them back using the phone number printed on that letter. Even then, the IRS employee will not ask for payment over the phone or demand immediate action. They will explain what they found, answer your questions, and tell you how to respond in writing.

Scammers know this rule and exploit it. They call pretending to be IRS agents, claim you owe money, threaten arrest or license suspension, and demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. None of that is how the IRS works.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS always sends a letter first; a phone call claiming to be from the IRS is always a scam.
  • Real IRS letters come by postal mail and include a specific notice number, your tax year, and the reason for contact.
  • The IRS does not demand payment by phone, gift card, wire transfer, or any method that cannot be reversed.
  • If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call the IRS directly using the number on a letter you received or the number on IRS.gov.
  • Scammers often spoof the IRS phone number so the caller ID shows a real-looking number; never trust caller ID alone.

What a real IRS letter looks like

A genuine IRS notice arrives in an envelope with the IRS seal and your name and address printed on it. Inside, the letter includes a notice number (usually starting with CP, such as CP2000 or CP14), the tax year in question, a clear explanation of what the IRS found or needs from you, and the date by which you must respond. The letter also includes a phone number you can call if you have questions—but that number is for you to call, not for the IRS to call you.

The letter will never ask you to pay immediately by phone, wire, or gift card. It will tell you how to pay if payment is owed—usually by check, electronic transfer through your bank, or the IRS payment portal at IRS.gov. You have time to respond, typically 30 days or more depending on the notice type.

If you are unsure whether a letter is real, you can verify it by calling the IRS yourself. Use the phone number on the letter, or look up the IRS phone number on IRS.gov directly. Do not use a number from an email, text, or call claiming to be from the IRS.

How to recognize an IRS scam call

Scam calls share a pattern. The caller claims you owe back taxes, says you will be arrested or sued if you do not pay immediately, and demands payment by a method you cannot reverse—iTunes gift cards, Google Play cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. They may also claim to be from a related agency like the Department of Justice or Social Security Administration to add false authority.

Real warning signs include pressure to act right now, refusal to let you hang up and call back, threats of arrest or license suspension, and any request for payment by gift card or wire. The IRS does not threaten arrest over the phone, does not demand same-day payment, and does not accept gift cards.

Scammers also spoof caller ID, meaning the number that appears on your phone may look like an official IRS number or a local number. Caller ID alone is not proof of who is calling. If you are unsure, hang up and call the number on a real IRS letter or the number listed on IRS.gov.

What to do if you receive a suspicious call

Hang up immediately. Do not give any personal information, do not stay on the line to argue, and do not call any number the caller provides. If you think the call might be real, call the IRS yourself using a number you find independently—on a letter you received, on IRS.gov, or in the phone book.

Report the scam call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at the phone number on IRS.gov, or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Include the phone number that called you, the date and time of the call, and what the caller said. These reports help law enforcement track scam patterns.

If you gave the scammer any information—your Social Security number, bank account details, or payment information—contact your bank and the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) right away to report the breach. You may also want to place a fraud alert on your credit file.

If you actually owe the IRS money

If you have received a real IRS letter saying you owe taxes, you have options. You can pay in full, set up a payment plan, or request a hearing to dispute the amount. The letter will explain each option and how to pursue it. You do not need to pay immediately, and you should never pay based on a phone call.

If you cannot pay the full amount, the IRS offers installment agreements that let you pay over time. You can set these up online through IRS.gov, by mail, or by calling the IRS using the number on your letter. The IRS will work with you; they do not want to arrest you or seize your assets without exhausting other options first.

If you believe the IRS made an error, you can request an appeal or a hearing. The letter you received will explain how to do this. You have the right to representation, and you can hire a tax professional, attorney, or certified public accountant to help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the IRS text or email me?

No. The IRS does not send unsolicited text messages or emails. If you receive a text or email claiming to be from the IRS with a link to click or a number to call, it is a scam. The IRS contacts people by postal mail only, unless you have already called them and they are calling you back.

What if the caller ID shows an IRS number?

Scammers can spoof caller ID to make any number appear on your phone. A real-looking caller ID does not mean the call is real. If you are unsure, hang up and call the IRS using a number you find yourself on IRS.gov or a letter you received.

Is it safe to call the number on the letter if I receive one?

Yes. If you received a letter in the mail with an IRS seal and notice number, the phone number printed on that letter is safe to call. That is the IRS's official number for that case. Do not call a number from a phone call, email, or text claiming to be from the IRS.

What should I do if I think I owe taxes but have not received a letter?

You can check your account status on IRS.gov using your Social Security number and date of birth. You can also call the IRS directly using the number on IRS.gov. Do not wait for a call; the IRS will send a letter if you owe money.

Can I get my money back if I paid a scammer?

It depends on how you paid. If you used a gift card or wire transfer, the money is usually gone because those transactions cannot be reversed. If you used a credit card or bank account, contact your bank immediately to report fraud and ask if they can reverse the charge. File a report with the FTC and TIGTA as well.