The Infamous IRS Scam Call

Chad Dickinson • November 14, 2025

How to spot them, how they work, and what to do next.

If your phone rings with someone claiming to be “from the IRS,” demanding immediate payment and threatening arrest, wage garnishment, deportation, or license suspension… take a breath. You’re almost certainly dealing with a scammer.

IRS scam calls have become so common that the IRS lists them on its annual “Dirty Dozen” tax scams list. These impersonator calls spike during tax season, but they hit taxpayers year-round — using fear, urgency, and deception to steal money and personal information.

This guide explains how real IRS contact works, the tricks scammers use, and the steps to take to protect yourself.

Does the IRS Actually Call People?

Yes — but not the way scammers do.

The IRS will never:

Demand payment over the phone
Require a specific payment method like gift cards, prepaid cards, wire transfers, or Venmo/Zelle
Threaten arrest, deportation, license revocation, or police action
Ask for your debit or credit card number over the phone

Here’s how legitimate IRS contact works:

Mail first. Always. The IRS sends letters or notices before anything else.
Collections: An IRS employee may visit or call after written notices — but they will never ask for payment to anyone except the U.S. Treasury.
Audits: You may get a phone call to schedule appointments, but only after receiving official mailed notices.
Criminal investigations: Agents may visit without warning, but they never request money.

If you haven’t received IRS mail, the call you’re getting is not the IRS.

How IRS Scam Calls Work

Scammers typically start with an unsolicited call using spoofed caller IDs to appear legitimate — sometimes even showing “IRS” or a Washington, D.C. number.

You’ll often hear:

Accusations of unpaid taxes
Claims you’ve committed fraud
Threats of arrest or legal action within hours
Demands for immediate payment
Instructions not to hang up or call anyone

Their goal is simple: panic you into paying quickly.

These scammers are shockingly successful. TIGTA (the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration) reported that thousands of victims paid over $54 million to impersonators in recent years.

Common Red Flags of an IRS Phone Scam

If any of these happen, it’s a scam — hang up immediately.

1. Immediate threats

“Officers are on the way right now…”

“The sheriff will arrest you today…”

“You’ll lose your license or be deported…”

The IRS does not operate like this.

2. Pressure to act right now

Scammers rely on panic. The real IRS allows appeals and due-process rights.

3. Requests for unusual payment methods

Gift cards
Apple Pay
Wire transfers
Cash apps
Prepaid cards

The IRS doesn’t use these. Ever.

4. Caller already knows your personal info

Don’t be fooled. Scammers can easily buy or scrape basic data.

5. Robocall voicemails demanding callback

These are classic IRS impersonation tactics.

6. Refusal to let you verify the caller

A real IRS employee will give you their name and ID — and allow you to hang up and call the official IRS line to confirm.

What To Do If You Get an IRS Scam Call

Hang up immediately.

Don’t argue or engage. Just disconnect.

Don’t share ANY personal information.

Not your name, address, SSN, or financial details.

Report the scam to TIGTA

Online: https://www.treasury.gov/tigta

Phone: 800-366-4484

Report to the FTC

Use the fraud assistant at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you’re unsure whether you owe taxes, call the IRS directly

IRS main line: 800-829-1040

They will tell you your status without threats or pressure.

If you actually owe taxes, the real IRS contact process is predictable and documented — not chaotic or aggressive.

New Variations to Watch Out For

Scammers evolve constantly. Some newer tactics include:

Threatening to suspend your Social Security number
Fake “refund verification” calls
Calls claiming you must verify your identity to release a refund
Fake charities tied to disaster relief
Refund recalculation scams
Fake “IRS case managers” calling from spoofed local numbers

When in doubt, assume it’s a scam and verify independently.

What To Do If You Fell Victim

If you’ve already paid or disclosed personal information:

Report immediately to TIGTA and the FTC
Notify your bank or credit card company
Change passwords and enable 2-factor authentication
Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze
Monitor accounts closely

If the scam involved identity theft or IRS-related fraud, a tax professional can help you work with the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit to secure your account.

Stay Protected with Arch Tax

IRS scammers thrive on confusion, panic, and misinformation. The best defense is having a real tax professional in your corner.

At Arch Tax, we help taxpayers: