How to Report Tax Fraud and IRS Impersonators
Someone called claiming to be the IRS, or a return showed up in your name. Here is where each kind of tax fraud goes.
A call, a letter or an email says the IRS is after you. Or maybe you found a tax return filed in your name, or a preparer who took your refund. Tax fraud takes a few forms, and each one has its own place to report it. Here is how to sort out what happened to you and where to take it.
How to tell if it is really the IRS
Start here, because your first fear is often the contact itself. The FTC says the IRS will never email, text, or message you on social media with threats or demands that you pay. A private debt collector working for the IRS will never ask you to pay over the phone. And neither the IRS nor its debt collectors will threaten to arrest you.
The IRS says impersonators demand payment now and threaten arrest or deportation. That pressure is the tell. Real IRS contact does not work that way.
Still unsure? The IRS identity theft central page has a way to find out if it is really the IRS contacting you. Check that before you answer any demand for money. If you want more on how these schemes work, see our page on IRS scam tactics.
Where to report IRS impersonators
Did someone pose as the IRS to get your money? The FTC says to report them to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at tigta.gov.
Some scammers pose as the FTC instead. The FTC says to report FTC impersonation scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. And the FTC's guide says to report a scammer at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For calls in particular, our page on scam tax calls goes deeper.
What happens to your FTC report
So what does the FTC do with a report? The FTC's guide says the FTC can use scam reports to build cases against scammers. It can also use them to teach the public. And it shares data about scams in your community. Your report adds to that picture.
Reporting tax identity theft and fraud to the IRS
If someone stole your information to commit tax fraud, the IRS identity theft central page is built for you. It explains the steps for reporting identity theft, tax scams and fraud. It has separate guides for individuals, businesses and tax professionals. Use the one that fits your case.
The page also lists common forms of identity theft. These include identity theft involving deceased persons, dependents, employment and unemployment. It covers data breaches for individuals and for businesses. If someone filed a return in your name, our page on IRS identity theft walks through that situation.
Signs you may be a victim of tax identity theft
Some signs show up on your own paperwork. The IRS says if Box 1 of Form 1099-G shows unemployment compensation you did not get, you may be a victim of identity theft. Criminals can use your information to file fake unemployment claims. Then you have taxable income to report for money you never got.
The IRS says criminals also file fake returns in other people's names to get refunds. Businesses are targets too. The IRS says criminals target businesses and payroll companies by email to steal Form W-2 data.
Other tax fraud you can report
Not every tax scam involves a fake IRS agent. The IRS names several others.
Dishonest tax preparers may not sign the return. They may falsify tax information. Or they may put your refund in their own bank account. The IRS says they charge large upfront fees or a fee based on your refund amount. A preparer who wants your refund sent to them is a red flag.
Tax debt relief services promise to settle your tax debt for pennies on the dollar and rush you to pay them. The IRS says you can settle tax debt directly with the IRS if you are eligible for an offer in compromise. It also warns people to watch out for Offer in Compromise mills, where promoters claim their services are needed to settle IRS debts.
Fake charities are another one. The IRS says you cannot deduct donations to fake charities. So a group pushing you for a deductible gift deserves a second look.
After a disaster, the IRS says scammers want to help you file casualty loss claims or get big tax refunds. Some scammers send you a tax bill to trick you into paying them. Bad tax advice on social media can also mislead you. It may be wrong about your credit or refund eligibility. The IRS says wrong tips on getting a bigger refund can cost you. Your refund may be delayed. You could face an audit, fines or jail time. It also says social media posts may put you in touch with scammers.
The IRS says impersonation mail can mislead you about an unclaimed refund. Our page on IRS scam mail covers the paper versions.
Protecting yourself after you report
Once you have reported, take a few protective steps. The IRS identity theft central page tells you how to get an Identity Protection PIN, also called an IP PIN.
The page also has help to protect your identity, your computer and your phone. It can help you spot phishing emails too. The IRS says email and text message impersonators want you to send them money, and opening links and attachments may harm your computer. It also says odd or misspelled web links can take you to harmful sites instead of IRS.gov.
If you are not sure which agency handles it
Tax fraud does not always sort neatly. According to USAGov's scams and fraud page, a short set of questions is available to work through. The answers point you toward the agency that handles your type of scam. It also shows you how to report it to the right place. When in doubt, start there or with the IRS identity theft central page, and let the questions point you to the right office.