IRS Impersonation Scams
Scammers impersonate the IRS with threatening calls and emails claiming you owe back taxes, face arrest, or must act immediately to avoid penalties. The real IRS always contacts you by post first and will never demand gift-card payment.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the US federal tax authority, and its name is frequently misused by scammers because fear of the government — particularly around tax obligations — is a powerful motivator. IRS impersonation scams consistently rank among the most reported fraud types in the United States.
The classic version involves a caller claiming to be an IRS agent, alleging you owe back taxes, and threatening arrest, deportation, or licence revocation unless you pay immediately — usually via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Email versions ask you to click a link to claim a refund or verify your identity.
The IRS is the victim of this impersonation. The IRS has clear, public standards for how it contacts taxpayers — and gift cards are not on that list.
How scammers impersonate it
- Calling and claiming to be IRS agents demanding immediate payment for alleged back taxes
- Threatening arrest, deportation, or licence suspension unless payment is made that day
- Spoofing government phone numbers so the caller ID appears official
- Sending phishing emails claiming you are owed a tax refund and must verify your details
- Leaving robocall voicemails claiming a lawsuit or warrant has been issued
- Using official-sounding language and IRS badge or case numbers to seem credible
What the real organisation never does
- Demand immediate payment over the phone without first mailing a bill
- Accept gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency as tax payment
- Threaten immediate arrest or deportation without prior notice
- Require a specific payment method
- Ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone
- Send an email with a link to claim a refund — refunds are issued by cheque or direct deposit to your registered account
Common red flags
- A call demanding immediate payment for taxes you were not previously aware of
- Threat of arrest or law enforcement action unless you pay right now
- Request for payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
- Caller becomes aggressive or threatening when you try to end the call
- Email with a link to verify your identity to receive a refund
- Caller ID shows a government number — this can be spoofed
- Pressure to stay on the phone while you purchase or transfer money
Sanitized example messages
Illustrative, sanitized examples. Personal details are replaced with placeholders such as [phone number] and [fake link].
Call: 'This is Agent [name] from the IRS. You owe [amount] in back taxes. If you do not pay today with a gift card, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.'
Voicemail: 'This is the IRS Tax Division. A lawsuit has been filed against you. Call [phone number] immediately.'
Email: 'You are eligible for a tax refund of [amount]. Confirm your identity at [fake link] within 48 hours.'
How to verify
- If you are genuinely concerned about a tax balance, log in to your IRS account at irs.gov or call the official IRS number listed there
- The IRS initiates most contact by post — an unexpected call is a major red flag
- Do not pay any caller claiming to be the IRS without first verifying through irs.gov
- The IRS does not accept gift cards, Western Union, or cryptocurrency as payment
- Ask for a reference number and case number, then verify it independently via irs.gov
What to do if you're targeted
- Hang up on threatening calls without paying anything
- Report IRS impersonation calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.gov
- Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If you made a payment, contact your bank or gift card provider immediately
Frequently asked questions
Can the IRS have me arrested for unpaid taxes?
Tax debt does not result in immediate arrest. The IRS follows a lengthy formal process before any enforcement action, and you would receive multiple written notices first. A call threatening instant arrest for unpaid taxes is a scam.
The caller knew my name and last four digits of my Social Security number — doesn't that prove they are the IRS?
No. Partial personal information is available from data breaches and public records. Scammers use it to appear credible. Knowing part of your information does not verify the caller's identity.
I paid via gift card. Can I get the money back?
Contact the gift card issuer immediately and explain you were scammed. Recovery is not guaranteed, but some issuers can block cards if contacted quickly. Report the fraud to TIGTA and the FTC.