Scammers are Sending Fake IRS Letters

Many taxpayers are aware that the IRS will never call to demand immediate payment over the phone or call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill. To try and trick taxpayers, some scammers are mailing legitimate-looking IRS letters.

An example of a fake IRS letter is pictured below. Some of the telling signs are the following:

● The processing address in Austin is not correct. ● The notice tells the taxpayer to make a check to the IRS when it should be the U.S. Treasury. ● The IRS gives you the right to appeal if you disagree with the tax assessed. The fake letter insists on your payment of the additional tax in spite of your disagreement.

If you get a letter from the IRS that appears it may not be legitimate, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 (as opposed to the number written on the notice) to verify what you might owe.