How to Spot a Fake IRS Letter in the Mail
You are holding a letter that looks like it came from the IRS. Here is how to tell if it is real, and what to do next.
You pulled an envelope from the mailbox, and the letter inside says it is from the IRS. Before you pay anything or share a thing, read this. An IRS scam can arrive on paper, just as easily as by phone or email.
How to tell a real IRS letter from a fake one
Start with the demands. The IRS says impersonators demand payment now and threaten arrest or deportation. The FTC says neither the IRS nor its debt collectors will threaten to arrest you.
Next, look at any web address printed on the letter. The IRS says odd or misspelled web links can take you to harmful sites instead of IRS.gov. Check the address letter by letter before you type it into a browser.
Scammers also target people over age 65 or nearing retirement, the IRS says. If the letter pushes you for personal or financial information, treat that as a warning sign.
What the real IRS will never do
The FTC lists a few hard lines the real IRS will not cross:
- The IRS will never email, text, or message you on social media with threats or demands that you pay.
- A private debt collector working for the IRS will never ask you to pay over the phone.
- Neither the IRS nor its debt collectors will threaten to arrest you.
If your letter came with an email or a text that demands money, it is not the IRS.
The fake tax bill in your mailbox
The IRS says scammers send you a tax bill to trick you into paying them. The pressure is the tell. A bill that says pay today or face arrest is a scam.
The unclaimed refund letter
Some fake letters dangle money instead of demanding it. The IRS says impersonation mail can mislead you about an unclaimed refund. The goal is the same. The IRS says email and text message impersonators want you to send them money, and opening links and attachments may harm your computer. A refund letter that asks you to click a link or verify your bank details is after your money or your identity.
What to do if the letter is fake
Do not pay. Do not click any link or open any attachment. Do not call the number on the letter.
Then report it. The FTC says to report IRS scammers to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov.
What to do if you already responded or paid
If you sent money or shared your details, you are not the first, and you are not alone. Watch your bank account for charges you did not make. Our pages on the social security scam by mail and the scam social security call cover related scams.
How to report IRS scammers
The FTC says to report IRS scammers to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov.
Scammers also work by phone. If someone calls about taxes you supposedly owe, read about scam tax calls before you pick up again.