How to tell if an IRS letter or call is real

Is this IRS letter real?

Real IRS contact usually starts with a letter in the mail, and you can check it against your IRS Online Account or by calling the IRS at a number you look up yourself. Demands for immediate payment by gift card, crypto or wire transfer, threats of arrest, and odd links are signs of a scam.

Reviewed by [REVIEWER NAME], Enrolled Agent · Last reviewed [DATE]

Signs a letter is real

It has a notice or letter number, such as CP59 or LT11, usually in the top right corner.
It shows your name, part of your taxpayer ID, and a specific tax year.
It gives you options and a way to respond, including how to disagree.
The same balance or notice shows up in your IRS Online Account.

Signs of a scam

Demands to pay right now, “or else.”
Threats of arrest, deportation or losing your license.
Payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, crypto or wire transfer.
No chance to question or appeal what you supposedly owe.
Odd or misspelled links that don’t go to IRS.gov.
Offers that sound too good to be true, like a surprise refund if you just confirm your details.

How to check, safely

Don’t use the contact details in a suspicious message.
Sign in to your IRS Online Account at IRS.gov to see your balance and recent activity.
Look up the notice number on the IRS’s notice pages or in our notice library.
Call the IRS at a number you find on IRS.gov yourself.

Real letters from tax relief companies

Mailers that look official but come from private companies are common, especially after a federal tax lien is filed, since liens are public. They’re legal if they’re honest, but they’re not from the IRS. Check who sent it, and see how to vet a tax relief company.

Common questions

Does the IRS call or text people?

The IRS usually makes first contact by mail. It may call in some situations, such as an open collection or audit case, but it won’t demand immediate payment by gift card, prepaid card, crypto or wire transfer, or threaten arrest.

How do I check a letter without calling the number on it?

Sign in to your IRS Online Account at IRS.gov, where many notices and your balances appear, or call the IRS using the number listed on IRS.gov.

What should I do if I think it’s a scam?

Don’t pay, click links or share personal information. Report IRS impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and forward phishing emails as the IRS directs on IRS.gov.