Verification & Safety: How to Spot IRS Scams

Most taxpayers assume the biggest risk during filing season is making a math error or missing a deduction. That assumption is exactly what scammers rely on.

Each year, filing season triggers a surge in fake IRS calls, texts, emails, and payment demands designed to exploit fear, urgency, and confusion. Verification and safety are not administrative details. They are risk-control functions.

If you are unsure whether a communication is legitimate or whether a payment request is real, this is the moment to pause. Before responding, paying, or clicking, it is worth confirming what is real and what is not. You can call, email, or message Steve Perry, EA to verify whether a notice or request is legitimate before taking any action that could expose you to financial loss or identity theft.

Call Steve at (678) 717-9818, email him at [email protected], or message him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/steveperrybtm.

Why Filing Season Is Prime Time for Scammers

Scammers succeed because their messages sound almost correct.

They borrow real IRS language, reference legitimate-sounding penalties, and create artificial urgency. During filing season, taxpayers already expect IRS correspondence. That expectation lowers skepticism and increases compliance with fraudulent requests.

What the IRS Will Never Do

Understanding what the IRS does not do is the foundation of verification safety.

The Internal Revenue Service will never demand payment using gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or peer-to-peer payment apps. It will never initiate enforcement contact by text message or social media. It will never threaten arrest, deportation, or license revocation over the phone. It will never refuse to provide written notice before taking action. It will never require immediate payment without providing appeal rights.

Any communication that includes these elements fails basic verification standards.

Common Scam Formats Taxpayers Encounter

Scam tactics evolve, but their structure remains consistent.

Most attempts appear as fake balance-due notices demanding immediate payment, phishing emails claiming account suspension or refund holds, spoofed phone calls using aggressive enforcement language, bogus preparers requesting Social Security numbers or banking information, or fake verification links that redirect to imitation IRS websites.

If a message creates panic before it allows verification, that is intentional.

How Legitimate IRS Communication Actually Works

Verification starts with understanding the real process.

Legitimate IRS communication typically begins with written correspondence sent by U.S. mail. The notice includes a clearly labeled CP or Letter number, an explanation of the issue, available response options, and a defined response window. Appeal rights are clearly stated.

Phone calls generally occur only after written contact and only in limited, documented situations.

If you are holding a notice and are unsure whether it fits this pattern, that uncertainty alone is a signal to verify before responding. A short review can confirm whether the communication follows proper IRS procedure or should be treated as suspect.

Call Steve at (678) 717-9818, email [email protected], or message him on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/steveperrybtm to confirm what you are dealing with.

The Hidden Risk of “Helpful” Third Parties

Not all risk comes from obvious scams.

Some threats appear as tax relief companies promising guaranteed outcomes, unlicensed preparers offering refund advances, online ads mimicking IRS branding, or unsolicited outreach claiming insider access to the IRS.

Pressure to act before credentials or documentation can be verified is itself a warning sign.

Practical Verification Checklist Before You Respond

Before paying, clicking, or replying, stop and confirm the basics.

Did the communication arrive by U.S. mail first? Does the notice number follow a real IRS format? Is payment being requested only through IRS-approved channels? Are response and appeal rights clearly stated? Can the claim be independently verified?

If any answer is unclear, verification has not been completed.

Why Verification Is a Tax Safety Issue, Not a Technology Issue

Identity theft, fraudulent payments, and unauthorized filings create downstream tax problems that can take years to unwind.

Once a scammer files under your Social Security number or intercepts funds, refunds may be delayed or frozen, future returns may require identity PINs, legitimate IRS notices may increase, and resolution timelines become longer and more expensive.

Verification at the front end is far less costly than repair later.

Recommended Next Steps

If you have received a communication that does not feel right, do not respond out of fear or urgency.

Instead, pause and confirm whether the notice, call, or payment request is legitimate and what your actual obligations are, if any. You can call, email, or message Steve Perry, EA for a verification review before taking action.

Phone: (678) 717-9818
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steveperrybtm

A brief verification step now can prevent months or years of unnecessary exposure later.

FAQ

Is it safe to call the number listed on an IRS notice?
Only after confirming the notice itself is legitimate and the number matches official IRS records.

Can the IRS email me?
No. The IRS does not initiate enforcement or payment collection by email.

What should I do if I already responded to a scam?
Immediate action is critical. Identity protection steps and IRS safeguards should be initiated as soon as possible.

Are IRS letters always legitimate?
Most are, but scammers do send realistic fake letters. Verification is still required.