How do I spot a fake IRS letter?
Fake IRS letters use urgent threats about arrest or immediate payment that the real IRS never makes — the IRS always allows time to question a notice and never demands gift cards.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Government impersonation is one of the most reported scam categories in the United States. Fraudsters send letters (and emails) designed to look like official IRS correspondence, complete with agency seals, case numbers, and legalese. The aim is to frighten you into paying a fabricated tax debt or handing over personal details that enable identity theft.
The IRS follows a predictable, rights-protecting process. When you owe tax, you receive a series of notices before any enforcement action. These notices quote your specific tax year, explain the calculation, give you at least 30 days to respond, and refer you to an official IRS.gov web address. A letter demanding same-day payment under threat of immediate arrest does not come from the real IRS.
Payment method is the biggest tell. The IRS accepts cheque, bank transfer to the US Treasury, and online payment at IRS.gov. It never asks for iTunes gift cards, wire transfers to a private account, cryptocurrency, or 'processing fees' via prepaid debit cards. If any letter directs you to pay in these ways, it is a scam.
You can verify any IRS notice by calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040, not any number printed on the letter. You can also log in to your IRS Online Account at IRS.gov to see your actual balance.
Common red flags
- Threatens arrest, deportation, or police action if you do not pay today
- Demands payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer
- Includes a phone number or website different from IRS.gov / 1-800-829-1040
- Requests personal information such as your full Social Security number by return email
- No IRS notice number (CP or LTR code) or the notice number does not match any correspondence in your IRS Online Account
- Grammatical errors or formatting inconsistent with official government stationery
What to do now
- Do not pay or call any number in the letter
- Log in to your IRS Online Account at IRS.gov to check your actual balance
- Call the IRS directly on 1-800-829-1040 to verify
- Report the letter to the Treasury Inspector General at TIGTA.gov
- File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- If you paid, contact your bank or the gift card issuer immediately
Frequently asked questions
Can the IRS contact me by email?
No. The IRS initiates contact by postal mail only. Any email claiming to be from the IRS is a phishing attempt.
What if I owe real back taxes — how do I know this letter is fake?
Log in to IRS.gov and check your balance. If you genuinely owe, your account will show it and you can arrange payment safely on that site.
Is there a way to check a specific IRS notice number?
Yes. Search the notice number (e.g. CP2000) on IRS.gov to read the official description. Real notices are all documented there.