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Is this text a scam?

Is this IRS text a scam?

Updated October 16, 2026 · 5 min read

If you got a text from “the IRS” about a refund, a bill or a problem with your identity, it is almost certainly a scam. The IRS says it does not start contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media, and that its usual first step is a letter. Don’t reply, click or call the number in the text. Here is what to do.

The short answer

The IRS says it doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by text message. A text that claims to be from the IRS, especially one with a link or a phone number to call, is a phishing attempt. We can’t see your message, so no page can tell you for certain. If you’re unsure, don’t use the link: go to the company’s own app or website, or call a number you already trust.

What the IRS tells you to do

  • Don’t reply, click links or open attachments.
  • Don’t call the number in the message.
  • The IRS says it usually mails a letter or notice before it calls or emails.
  • Report IRS-related texts to phishing@irs.gov with the subject line “Text”, including the sender’s number, the message text and the date, time and time zone you received it.
  • Then delete the message.

What these texts typically claim

  • You’re owed a refund and need to “claim” it through a link.
  • You owe tax and must pay at once to avoid arrest or a penalty.
  • Your identity or account has a problem that you must confirm.
  • You must call back a number straight away.

What to do now

  1. Don’t engage with the message.
  2. If you’re worried about your tax account, go to irs.gov yourself and sign in there.
  3. Report it to phishing@irs.gov (subject “Text”), and forward the text to 7726.
  4. You can also report IRS impersonation to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
  5. Delete the text and block the number.

If you clicked, paid or shared details

  • Contact your bank or card issuer straight away.
  • Change passwords you typed, and anywhere you reuse them.
  • If you shared your Social Security number, see the FTC’s identity-theft guidance at identitytheft.gov.

Check it again

You can also paste the message into our free scam text checker. It runs on your message and doesn’t store it.

Frequently asked questions

Does the IRS text people?

The IRS says it doesn’t start contact with taxpayers by text, email or social media. It usually sends a letter first.

Where do I report a fake IRS text?

Send the details to phishing@irs.gov with the subject “Text”, forward the message to 7726 and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Should I call the number in the text?

No. The IRS advises against calling a number in a suspicious message.

Sources

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