Warning! IRS Phone Scams

Please be wary of any unsolicited phone calls or emails you get from individuals claiming to represent the IRS or the US Treasury. This is one of the biggest scams out there and is a crime of opportunity. Do not engage these callers, who often threaten to issue arrest warrants or involve local law enforcement if you do not cooperate. If they call you, simply hang up on them.

The IRS usually first contacts people by mail — not by phone or email — about unpaid taxes. The IRS will never request personal or financial information by email, text or any social media. And the IRS will NOT ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer. The IRS also won’t ask for a credit card number over the phone.

If you get a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS asking for a payment, here’s what you need to do:

* If you owe Federal taxes or think you might owe taxes, hang up and call the IRS at 800-829-1040. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions.
* If you don’t owe taxes, fill out the “IRS Impersonation Scam” form at www.treasury.gov/tigta or call 800-366-4484.
* You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint.
* Forward scam emails to phishing@irs.gov. Do not open any attachments or click on any links in questionable emails.

We hope you find this information helpful. Please contact us if you have any questions.