Consumer Alerts on Tax Scams (Series 1 of 3)

Note that the IRS will never:

Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail you a bill if you owe any taxes.
 
Threaten to immediately bring in local police, immigration officers or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.  The IRS also cannot revoke your driver’s license, business licenses, or immigration status.  Threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims int buying into their schemes.
 
Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
 
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Is it Really the IRS Calling?

The IRS wants you to understand how and when they contact taxpayers and help you determine whether a contact you may have received is truly from an IRS employee.

The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.

However, there are special circumstances in which the IRS will call or come to a home or business, such as when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment, or to tour a business as part of an audit or during criminal investigations.