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Do not pay or reply until you verify the notice independently. Sign in to your secure IRS Online Account, compare the notice number, tax year, amount and instructions with your records, and look up the notice on IRS.gov. If anything remains unclear, contact the IRS using contact information you reached independently through IRS.gov—not a link, phone number or payment instruction in a suspicious message. A legitimate IRS notice can concern a refund, an account correction or money you owe, so verification and timely action are both important.
What a real IRS notice usually looks like
The Internal Revenue Service generally begins contact about a tax issue with a mailed letter or notice. A genuine notice may discuss a refund, a change to your return, a payment already applied, an unpaid balance, or a request for information. IRS Tax Tip 2026-39 states that “The IRS and authorized private debt collection agencies do send letters by mail.”
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A letter arriving in the mail is not automatically genuine, and a request for payment is not automatically a scam. The reliable test is whether the specific communication matches your IRS account and tax records, and whether you confirm it through an official IRS channel.
The IRS does not make initial contact through email or social media. It may send a text message when you have given permission. An agent may call after a letter to confirm an appointment or discuss a scheduled audit, but the IRS does not leave urgent or threatening messages. These channel rules come from the IRS guidance on recognizing impersonation scams: IRS Tax Tip 2025-46 and the IRS warning about scammers posing as the agency.
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Verify an IRS refund notice or payment request step by step
1. Stop and preserve the communication
If the message arrived by email, text, social media or an unexpected phone call, pause. Do not click a link, open an attachment, reply, or provide your Social Security number, bank details, login credentials or one-time security code. Save the email, text, caller information and envelope. A mailed letter should be kept intact, including every page and any payment coupon.
2. Find the notice number and tax year
Look near the top of the letter for an identifier such as CP503, CP62, CP267 or CP10, along with the tax year or period. Read the explanation of what the IRS says happened, the amount shown, the response deadline and the requested action. Do not rely on a generic subject line such as “refund” or “final warning”; the notice number and tax period identify the issue that must be checked.
3. Compare the facts with your own records
Compare the stated income, withholding, estimated payments, credits, refunds, prior payments and balance with the return you filed and your bank or payment records. Check that the name and mailing address are plausible and that the tax year is one for which you filed or had an account. A mismatch does not by itself prove fraud—IRS records can contain errors—but it is a reason to verify before paying or responding.
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4. Check your secure IRS Online Account
Sign in by navigating to IRS.gov yourself rather than using a link in the communication. The IRS says some notices can be viewed and downloaded in the secure Online Account. Look for a letter with the same notice number, tax year, amount and explanation. The absence of a notice online is not conclusive: not every notice is available there, and online posting can differ from the date of a mailed letter. Treat the account as an independent check, not the only test.
5. Use the IRS notice lookup
From IRS.gov, use the official notice and letter resources to search the notice number. Compare the subject, circumstances, response options and deadline described on the IRS page with the letter in your hands. A notice number that exists on IRS.gov does not authenticate a particular letter; an impersonator can copy a real number. You need the number, the facts and your account to agree. Start with the IRS notices guidance at Topic no. 651, “Notices – what to do”.
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6. Contact the IRS through an independently reached channel
If you still have doubts, go to IRS.gov by typing the address or using a trusted bookmark and obtain the current contact method there. Do not use a phone number, QR code, payment portal or web address supplied only in a suspicious message. Have the complete notice, your tax return and payment records available. Ask whether the notice number, tax year, amount and requested action correspond to your account. Keep notes of the date, representative and any confirmation number.
Red flags that point to impersonation
The IRS lists several warning signs. One sign should prompt caution; several together are a strong reason to stop and verify through IRS.gov.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| What you see | Why it is suspicious | Safe response |
|---|---|---|
| Unexpected email, social-media direct message or text claiming to be the IRS | The IRS generally starts contact about a tax issue with a mailed notice, not an unsolicited digital message. | Do not reply or click. Check your Online Account and IRS.gov independently. |
| Immediate threats of arrest, deportation, license loss or police action | Scammers use fear and a short deadline to prevent verification. The IRS does not leave urgent or threatening messages. | End the call or ignore the demand, then verify through an official IRS channel. |
| A demand to pay immediately or stay on the phone | Pressure is designed to stop you from checking the account or seeking advice. | Do not make a rushed payment. Follow only the instructions in a verified notice. |
| Gift cards, prepaid cards or online gift cards | The IRS and its authorized private collection agencies will not request payment by these methods. | Do not buy or disclose a card number or PIN. Report the attempted fraud using IRS guidance. |
| A link or attachment asking for personal, banking or login information | It can steal credentials or install malware. Misspelled or unusual URLs and grammar errors add to the risk. | Do not open it. Navigate to IRS.gov yourself. |
| A web address that is not on the irs.gov domain | Impersonators often use look-alike domains or shortened links. | Close the page and independently open IRS.gov. |
| A refund or credit offer requiring an upfront fee or sensitive information | Unexpected refund promises are a common lure. | Check the underlying tax account rather than pursuing the offer. |
These indicators and the IRS’s contact rules are explained in IRS Tax Scams and Beware of scammers posing as the IRS. A professional-looking letter, logo or copied notice number is not proof of authenticity.
Why a genuine notice may ask for money
A real notice can show that a balance is due, that the IRS changed your return, or that a credit was not applied as you expected. The notice’s number, facts and deadline determine the correct response. Do not discard a genuine notice merely because it requests payment, and do not pay merely because it looks official.
| Notice | What the IRS says it concerns | Typical next step described by the IRS |
|---|---|---|
| CP503 | A second reminder about an unpaid balance. | Pay by the due date, arrange a payment plan if needed, or contact the number on the notice if you disagree. Verify the letter and account before using any payment route. |
| CP62 | A payment was applied to an account. Depending on the account, a refund may be due or an amount may remain due. | Read the account-specific explanation and follow the distinct instructions for a refund or remaining balance. |
| CP267 | A mismatch between credits claimed and credits applied created an overpayment. | Respond or request a refund as the notice explains. If the IRS does not hear from you, its CP267 guidance says it will assume agreement and issue a refund check within 15 weeks of the notice date, provided no other tax or collectible debt is owed. |
| CP10 | A correction to a return affected estimated tax payments. | If you disagree, contact the number shown by the indicated date and use the notice’s response process. |
This is an example list, not a complete directory. The same notice number can be imitated, and a real notice can contain an error. Match the particular letter to your account and records.
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Refund timing: do not assume one universal date
Refund timing depends on the notice, the tax account and other debts. IRS Topic no. 651 says that when you are due a refund and owe no other tax or collectible debt, the refund will arrive within six weeks of the notice date. That is general guidance, not a guarantee for every taxpayer or notice.
A notice can state a different timeframe. For example, the CP267 instructions say that if the IRS does not hear from you, it will assume agreement and issue a refund check within 15 weeks of the notice date, provided no other tax or collectible debts are owed. Do not combine that notice-specific period with the general six-week guidance. Use the actual notice, your account and official IRS refund-status information to determine what applies.
Private collection agency letters and calls
The IRS can assign certain inactive tax liabilities to an authorized private collection agency. The agency should contact you only after the IRS has sent written notice to you and your representative. The IRS says these agencies follow payment rules that exclude prepaid cards and gift cards.
If a collection letter claims to follow a CP40 notice, verify that the taxpayer authentication number in the collection communication matches the CP40 notice you received from the IRS. Do not use a number or web address supplied by an unsolicited caller to perform that check; reach IRS.gov independently first. If the authentication number does not match, stop the conversation and verify with the IRS.
What to do when the message looks suspicious
- Pause. Do not click, reply, call back through the message, open an attachment or share personal or financial information.
- Refuse unsafe payment methods. Never buy a store gift card, prepaid card or online gift card because someone claiming to be the IRS demands it. Do not use a payment link from the suspicious communication.
- Verify independently. Sign in to IRS Online Account, search the notice number on IRS.gov and contact the IRS through contact information reached from IRS.gov.
- Secure exposed information. If you supplied credentials or financial details, change affected passwords, contact your financial institution and monitor accounts. If identity information was stolen, follow the reporting and identity-theft instructions linked from the IRS tax-scam guidance.
- Preserve evidence. Keep the original email or text, headers when available, phone number, envelope, screenshots and payment records. This information helps the IRS and other investigators identify the impersonation.
Do not attempt to “test” a suspicious caller by giving partial information. A scammer may already know your name, address or the last four digits of an account from another breach.
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What to do when the notice is genuine
Follow the stated deadline
A legitimate notice can require action even when no fraud is involved. Mark the response or payment due date immediately. Follow the payment, dispute, documentation or appointment process printed on the notice after you have independently confirmed it.
If you agree with the IRS
Use a payment method reached through IRS.gov or the verified notice instructions. Keep the confirmation, receipt and a copy of the notice. If you cannot pay the full amount, review the payment-plan options the IRS identifies rather than accepting a private caller’s alternative.
If you disagree
Respond in the manner and by the date the notice specifies. Explain the disagreement, include copies—not irreplaceable originals—of supporting records, and identify the tax year and notice number on each page. Keep proof of mailing or electronic submission and a complete copy of everything sent.
If the notice concerns a refund
Confirm that the refund amount and tax year match your return and account. Check whether another tax or collectible debt could offset it. Follow the notice’s instructions for requesting or correcting the refund, and use the notice-specific timeframe rather than assuming the general six-week period applies.
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| Question | More consistent with a genuine notice | More consistent with a scam |
|---|---|---|
| How did contact begin? | A mailed IRS notice, followed where appropriate by a call about that notice, an appointment or an audit. | An unsolicited email, social-media message, unexpected text or threatening call. |
| Can you find it in your account? | The notice may appear in IRS Online Account with matching details, although not every notice is posted online. | Nothing matches, or the sender refuses to let you verify independently. |
| Do the details match? | Notice number, tax year, amount, payments, credits and issue agree with records. | Details are vague, inconsistent, or unrelated to your filing history. |
| What happens if you wait? | The notice states a specific due date and response method. | The sender insists on payment in minutes or threatens immediate arrest. |
| How must you pay? | Options are explained in a verified IRS notice or on IRS.gov. | Gift card, prepaid card, cryptocurrency, wire to an individual, or a link supplied only by the sender. |
| Where does the link go? | When a link is needed, independently navigate to an IRS.gov page. | Misspelled domain, shortened URL, QR code or attachment directing you elsewhere. |
This comparison helps prioritize checks; no single row proves authenticity. Independent confirmation remains the deciding step.
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Common situations and the safest decision
“I received a letter saying I owe money, but I did not expect it.”
Do not ignore it and do not pay from an unexpected link. Identify the notice number and tax year, compare the balance with your return and payments, check your IRS Online Account, and confirm through IRS.gov. If genuine, meet the deadline or dispute the calculation as directed.
“The message says I am getting a refund if I confirm my bank account.”
Unexpected refund offers that demand credentials, bank information or an upfront fee are warning signs. Verify whether any refund or credit exists in your account. The IRS will not require a gift card or prepaid card, and the IRS does not begin a tax issue through an unsolicited email or social-media message.
“The caller knows my personal information.”
That knowledge does not authenticate the call. End the call, avoid calling back through the displayed number, and use IRS.gov to verify the account. If you already disclosed information, take the account-protection steps described above.
“The notice number is real, so the letter must be real.”
Not necessarily. Scammers can copy numbers from genuine IRS pages. Confirm that the number, tax year, amount, facts and instructions all correspond to your account and the letter you received.
Keep a record of your verification
- Photograph or scan every page, the envelope and any payment coupon.
- Record the notice number, tax year, amount, deadline and the IRS page used for verification.
- Save account messages, payment confirmations and correspondence in one folder.
- When speaking with the IRS, note the date, representative and any case or confirmation number.
- Retain copies of disputes and proof that you submitted them on time.
Good records protect you from missing a deadline and make it easier to resolve a genuine IRS error or report an impersonation.
Bottom line
An IRS refund notice or payment request is credible only after the particular communication survives an independent check. Use the notice number and tax year, compare the facts with your records, look in IRS Online Account, research the notice on IRS.gov and contact the IRS through independently obtained contact information when needed. Treat threats, unusual links, requests for sensitive information and gift-card or prepaid-card demands as scam warnings. Once the notice is verified, follow its actual instructions and deadline—even when the result is a refund, a correction or a balance due.
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