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IRS Warns That, While Tax Season Is Over, Tax Scams Still Abound

IRS the IRS has warned Sending an illegitimate refund to a legitimate bank account A wave of phishing emails A fake W-8EBN scheme

The IRS (and its authorized private collection agencies) will never:

  • * Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury, and checks should never be made payable to third parties.
  • * Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
  • * Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.
  • * Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

For people who don’t owe taxes and have no reason to think they do:

  • * Do not give out any information. Hang up immediately.
  • * Contact the Treasury inspector general for tax administration to report the call. Use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting web page.
  • * Report the caller ID and/or callback number to the IRS by sending it to phishing@irs.gov (Subject: IRS Phone Scam).
  • * Report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Use the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov. Add "IRS Telephone Scam" in the notes.

For people who owe taxes or think they do: