As a tax preparer, your clients may come to you in a panic after receiving a voicemail, social media message, or email claiming to be from the IRS. They trust you to help them determine whether communication is real, or if they are being targeted by a scam.
Unfortunately, tax-related scams are common, and scammers are getting more sophisticated. To protect your clients, it’s essential to understand how the IRS communicates with taxpayers and what red flags indicate a scam. In this article, we’ll break down how the IRS reaches out to taxpayers and how you can help your clients verify whether a message is legitimate.
How Does the IRS Contact Taxpayers?
1. Mail: The IRS’s Primary Method of Contact
If your client owes taxes or there’s an issue with their account, the IRS will usually contact them by mail first. The letter will come from an IRS office or service center and include a notice number (usually in the top right corner). These letters provide details on any outstanding balances, account issues, and taxpayer rights.
How to Help Clients Verify a Letter from the IRS:
- Check the notice number using the IRS’s online tool: Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter
- Verify any balance due by accessing their IRS account online:
- Individual Accounts: Online Account for Individuals
- Business Accounts: Business Tax Account
- Look at the letterhead and return address. If the letter references the “Fresh Start” program or offers a payment plan but does not include a QR code leading to IRS.gov, it’s likely a scam.
2. Phone Calls: Only in Certain Cases
The IRS does not typically call taxpayers unless they are undergoing an audit or have a Revenue Officer assigned to their case. If an IRS representative calls, they should be able to provide their full name, badge number, and a callback number. They should also verify information from a previously mailed letter.
Red Flags for Scam Calls:
- The caller demands immediate payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or wire transfers.
- The caller threatens arrest, license revocation, or passport suspension.
- The caller refuses to provide their IRS badge number.
How to Contact the IRS Directly to Verify:
- For Individual Accounts: 800-829-1040
- For Business Accounts: 800-829-4933
Encourage your clients not to give their Social Security Number over the phone unless they have verified the IRS contact information first.
3. Email: Almost Never
The IRS does not send unsolicited emails requesting personal or financial information. The only time your clients might receive an email from the IRS is if they have been working directly with an agent and have agreed to email correspondence. Even in those rare cases, emails from the IRS will always end in “@irs.gov.”
How to Spot an IRS Email Scam:
- The email asks for sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details.
- The email comes from an address that does not end in “@irs.gov.”
- The email includes suspicious links or attachments.
4. Text Messages: Always a Scam
The IRS will never send a text message asking for personal or financial details. If your client receives one claiming to be from the IRS, it’s a scam.
5. Social Media: Never
The IRS does not initiate contact via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, or any other social media platform. If your client receives a direct message from an account claiming to be the IRS, advise them to report it immediately.
6. In-Person Visits: Rare but Possible
In some cases, IRS agents (such as Revenue Officers) may visit a taxpayer’s home or business. However, this is very rare and usually follows extensive written communication. IRS employees will always provide two forms of identification:
- IRS-issued credentials (pocket commission)
- HSPD-12 card (federal employee ID)
Tax preparers should advise their clients to verify an agent’s credentials by calling the IRS.
Helping Clients Avoid IRS Impersonation Scams
Scammers use fear tactics to trick people into paying fake tax bills or handing over personal information. As a tax professional, you can educate your clients on common scams, such as:
- “You owe taxes and must pay now” – The IRS will never demand immediate payment over the phone.
- “You’re going to be arrested” – The IRS does not threaten arrest for non-payment.
- “You must pay with gift cards” – The IRS does not accept gift cards as payment.
How to Report an IRS Scam
If your client suspects they’ve received fraudulent communication, guide them through these steps:
- Email scams: Forward the email to [email protected]
- Phone scams: Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting
- Social media scams: Report fraudulent profiles to the platform and notify the IRS
Community Tax: A Partner for Tax Professionals
Need support for your clients’ back tax issues? Contact Community Tax today to get expert assistance. We would be honored to partner with you to assist your clients with their tax resolution needs while ensuring that you keep your clients for tax preparation services.
As a tax preparer, your clients may come to you in a panic after receiving a voicemail, social media message, or email claiming to be from the IRS. They trust you to help them determine whether communication is real, or if they are being targeted by a scam.
Unfortunately, tax-related scams are common, and scammers are getting more sophisticated. To protect your clients, it’s essential to understand how the IRS communicates with taxpayers and what red flags indicate a scam. In this article, we’ll break down how the IRS reaches out to taxpayers and how you can help your clients verify whether a message is legitimate.
How Does the IRS Contact Taxpayers?
1. Mail: The IRS’s Primary Method of Contact
If your client owes taxes or there’s an issue with their account, the IRS will usually contact them by mail first. The letter will come from an IRS office or service center and include a notice number (usually in the top right corner). These letters provide details on any outstanding balances, account issues, and taxpayer rights.
How to Help Clients Verify a Letter from the IRS:
- Check the notice number using the IRS’s online tool: Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter
- Verify any balance due by accessing their IRS account online:
- Individual Accounts: Online Account for Individuals
- Business Accounts: Business Tax Account
- Look at the letterhead and return address. If the letter references the “Fresh Start” program or offers a payment plan but does not include a QR code leading to IRS.gov, it’s likely a scam.
2. Phone Calls: Only in Certain Cases
The IRS does not typically call taxpayers unless they are undergoing an audit or have a Revenue Officer assigned to their case. If an IRS representative calls, they should be able to provide their full name, badge number, and a callback number. They should also verify information from a previously mailed letter.
Red Flags for Scam Calls:
- The caller demands immediate payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, or wire transfers.
- The caller threatens arrest, license revocation, or passport suspension.
- The caller refuses to provide their IRS badge number.
How to Contact the IRS Directly to Verify:
- For Individual Accounts: 800-829-1040
- For Business Accounts: 800-829-4933
Encourage your clients not to give their Social Security Number over the phone unless they have verified the IRS contact information first.
3. Email: Almost Never
The IRS does not send unsolicited emails requesting personal or financial information. The only time your clients might receive an email from the IRS is if they have been working directly with an agent and have agreed to email correspondence. Even in those rare cases, emails from the IRS will always end in “@irs.gov.”
How to Spot an IRS Email Scam:
- The email asks for sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details.
- The email comes from an address that does not end in “@irs.gov.”
- The email includes suspicious links or attachments.
4. Text Messages: Always a Scam
The IRS will never send a text message asking for personal or financial details. If your client receives one claiming to be from the IRS, it’s a scam.
5. Social Media: Never
The IRS does not initiate contact via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, or any other social media platform. If your client receives a direct message from an account claiming to be the IRS, advise them to report it immediately.
6. In-Person Visits: Rare but Possible
In some cases, IRS agents (such as Revenue Officers) may visit a taxpayer’s home or business. However, this is very rare and usually follows extensive written communication. IRS employees will always provide two forms of identification:
- IRS-issued credentials (pocket commission)
- HSPD-12 card (federal employee ID)
Tax preparers should advise their clients to verify an agent’s credentials by calling the IRS.
Helping Clients Avoid IRS Impersonation Scams
Scammers use fear tactics to trick people into paying fake tax bills or handing over personal information. As a tax professional, you can educate your clients on common scams, such as:
- “You owe taxes and must pay now” – The IRS will never demand immediate payment over the phone.
- “You’re going to be arrested” – The IRS does not threaten arrest for non-payment.
- “You must pay with gift cards” – The IRS does not accept gift cards as payment.
How to Report an IRS Scam
If your client suspects they’ve received fraudulent communication, guide them through these steps:
- Email scams: Forward the email to [email protected]
- Phone scams: Report the call to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting
- Social media scams: Report fraudulent profiles to the platform and notify the IRS
Community Tax: A Partner for Tax Professionals
Need support for your clients’ back tax issues? Contact Community Tax today to get expert assistance. We would be honored to partner with you to assist your clients with their tax resolution needs while ensuring that you keep your clients for tax preparation services.
