The answer is generally no. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords, or similar access information for credit cards, banks, or other financial accounts.
Telltale Signs of a Phishing Scam
Phishing scams are fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, bank account information, or credit card numbers. These scams often come in the form of emails or text messages that appear to be from legitimate organizations, such as the IRS. However, these emails and text messages are actually sent by scammers who are trying to trick you into providing your personal information.
Here are some telltale signs of a phishing scam:
- The email or text message contains misspellings or grammatical errors.
- The email or text message uses threatening language or demands immediate action.
- The email or text message contains a link to a website that looks like the IRS website, but is actually a fake website designed to steal your personal information.
- The email or text message asks you to provide your Social Security number, bank account information, or credit card numbers.
How to Know If It’s Really the IRS
If you receive an email or text message that claims to be from the IRS, there are a few things you can do to verify its authenticity:
- Go to the IRS website and search for the letter, notice, or form number that is mentioned in the email or text message.
- Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.
- Visit your local IRS office.
If you are still unsure whether or not the email or text message is legitimate, you can forward it to [email protected].
What to Do If You Receive a Phishing Scam
If you receive a phishing scam, do not reply to the email or text message. Do not open any attachments or click on any links. Instead, forward the email or text message to [email protected]. You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Additional Resources
- IRS Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
- Report Phishing
- Identity Theft
- IRS Phone Scams
- IRS Impersonation Scams
The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages, or social media channels to request personal or financial information. If you receive an email or text message that claims to be from the IRS, be sure to verify its authenticity before taking any action. If you are unsure whether or not the email or text message is legitimate, you can forward it to [email protected].
2 THINGS YOU MUST DO IF THE IRS CALLS OR EMAILS YOU
FAQ
How do I know if an email from the IRS is real?
How would IRS contact you?
What email address does the IRS use?
Does the IRS email you about tax refunds?
Are IRS emails a scam?
IRS email scams can occur year-round. If you see these tax-related messages in your inbox, don’t open them. The IRS receives hundreds of forwarded scam emails daily from concerned taxpayers. While numerous tax-related scams exist, some involving employee retention tax credits and “stimulus” payments are hitting inboxes more than others.
Does the IRS send e-mail refunds?
The IRS never offers refunds through e-mail or sends out unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers. When the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, they send notice via U.S. Mail, and every such notice includes a telephone number that the recipient can call for confirmation.
Will the IRS contact me by email?
The IRS will never initiate contact with you by email. Here are cases when we may send you email with your consent: When you create an account through IRS.gov, we confirm your email address and personal information to verify your identity. You can opt to receive email from us in your account profile.
What happens if you e-mail a tax refund?
Any information entered into such forms can be harvested by scammers and used for identity theft and other financial crimes. The IRS never offers refunds through e-mail or sends out unsolicited e-mails to taxpayers.