Fake IRS letters, calls, and texts scare people into paying tax they don't owe. Paste what you received and get an instant read — genuine notice, questionable, or likely scam.
Take a breath — you don't have to act today. The IRS makes first contact by mail and always gives you the right to question or appeal. A scary letter is not proof you owe anything.
Quick answer — The IRS makes first contact by mail, never demands payment by gift card, wire, or crypto, and never threatens arrest. A genuine IRS notice carries a CP or LTR number you can verify in your account at IRS.gov. Any call, email, or text demanding immediate payment is a scam.
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How to tell a real irs / tax notice from a fake
A genuine IRS notice arrives by physical mail first (the IRS doesn't start contact by email, text, or social media), shows a notice or letter number (CP### or LTR####), references a specific tax year and form, explains the issue and your right to question or appeal it, and directs payment to the 'United States Treasury' — never to an individual or by gift card.
Red flags
Demands payment by gift card, wire, crypto, or prepaid card.
Threatens immediate arrest, deportation, or license loss if you don't pay now.
Came only by phone, email, or text (a real notice comes by mail and has a CP/LTR number).
Asks for your full SSN, bank login, or a PIN.
Payee is someone other than the U.S. Treasury.
What to do
Look for the CP/LTR number and verify the notice in your account at IRS.gov (type it yourself).
Paste the letter above to see which official elements are missing.
Never pay by gift card or wire — the IRS doesn't take those.
No. The IRS almost always makes first contact by physical mail. An out-of-the-blue call, email, or text demanding payment — especially by gift card — is a scam. Real notices carry a CP or LTR number you can verify on IRS.gov.
How do I know an IRS letter is real?
It has a notice/letter number (CP### or LTR####), names a specific tax year, explains the issue and your appeal rights, and directs payment to the U.S. Treasury. Verify it in your IRS.gov account. Paste it above to see what's missing or off.
Official sources
This guidance is compiled from official U.S. government sources. For your specific situation, verify directly:
Is This Real?