Is this IRS letter real? How to check before you respond

Start with how the IRS normally contacts people

The IRS says it normally makes first contact by mail delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. It emails only when you opt in, and sends texts only when you opt in. A direct message on social media is never from the IRS.

That makes a paper letter the most common real contact, and also the most convincing kind of fake. The IRS lists fake tax bills and fake letters about unclaimed refunds among the scams it sees. It has also warned about fake letters sent to cryptocurrency holders. So a letter on official-looking paper still deserves a quick check.

Five checks you can do in 10 minutes

1. Find the notice or letter number

Real IRS notices carry a number such as CP14, CP2000 or Letter 5071C. The IRS says it appears in the upper right corner. No number at all is a reason for caution.

2. Search the number on IRS.gov

Type IRS.gov into your browser yourself and search for the notice number. The IRS keeps explainer pages for its common notices. Compare the explainer with your letter: does it describe the same situation, the same type of request and the same ways to respond?

3. Look in your IRS Online Account

Sign in at IRS.gov. Your account shows certain notices and letters, your balance and your payment history. If a letter says you owe $2,400 but your account shows a zero balance, that's a strong warning sign. Not every notice appears online, so a missing letter alone doesn't prove a fake.

4. Check the payment instructions

Real IRS payments go to the United States Treasury, through IRS.gov payment options or the methods listed on genuine notices. Be very cautious if a letter:

• Asks for gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency

• Names a private person or company as the payee

• Demands payment immediately, "or else"

• Threatens arrest or deportation

The IRS lists rushing you, threatening you and demanding payment now among the signs that a contact isn't from the IRS.

5. Check the web addresses and phone numbers

The IRS warns that odd or misspelled web links can lead to harmful sites instead of IRS.gov. Trusted IRS links go to irs.gov. Look closely for lookalikes such as an extra word, a different ending, or a QR code that leads somewhere unfamiliar. The IRS's alert about fake letters to crypto holders says not to scan the QR code.

For phone numbers, don't rely on the one printed in a doubtful letter. Use the number on IRS.gov. The IRS notice help page lists 800-829-1040.

Signs a letter is probably genuine

None of these proves a letter is real on its own, but together they're reassuring:

• A notice number that matches an IRS.gov explainer

• Your name, address and the last digits of your taxpayer ID correct

• A tax year you actually filed for

• Options to agree, disagree or call, with a response date

• Payment through IRS.gov or to the United States Treasury

• The same notice or balance showing in your IRS Online Account

Signs it may be fake

• Spelling and grammar mistakes, or an odd logo

• No notice number, or one that matches nothing on IRS.gov

• A link to a website that isn't irs.gov

• Pressure, threats or a demand for unusual payment

• Requests for passwords, full bank details or card numbers by phone or email

• A "debt relief" or "unclaimed refund" offer that asks for a fee first

What about phone calls and visits?

Some IRS staff do call or visit, usually after letters have been sent. The IRS says only four types of employees may visit a home or business. Revenue officers, revenue agents and fuel inspectors carry an IRS-issued pocket commission and an HSPD-12 card, and special agents carry law enforcement credentials. If you're unsure, call the number on the card you were given. If you feel unsafe, call 911.

If you get a suspicious call, the IRS says to record the number and hang up.

How to report a fake

The IRS lists these steps:

• Fake letters about unclaimed refunds, tax liens or debt relief: report to the U.S. Postal Service and the Federal Trade Commission. You can also contact your state AG's consumer protection office.

• Fake emails: send them to phishing@irs.gov with "IRS" in the subject line, report to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), then delete them.

• Fake texts: send the details to phishing@irs.gov with the subject "Text," or forward the message to 7726 (SPAM).

• Fake calls: report to the TIGTA hotline at 800-366-4484 or at tigta.gov.

If you already paid or shared personal details, also contact your bank and change passwords on the affected accounts.

If the letter is real

Read it for three things: what it is about, what it asks you to do, and the date it gives. The IRS says that if you agree with a notice, you usually don't need to reply unless it asks you to. If you disagree, follow the instructions on the notice and include copies of supporting documents. Reply by the date shown to protect your appeal rights.

Sample (synthetic): This notice is about your 2025 tax return. Please respond by December 2. Call 800-829-1040 if you have questions.

A second check before you act

When a letter looks real but you're unsure what it's asking, EasyToDecode, launching soon, will read your own letter, quote the notice number, amount and deadline, and point out anything that doesn't match how genuine notices usually look. It won't replace checking with the IRS, but it will help you know what to ask. See how it works or join the waitlist to hear when it opens.