Inland Revenue will never ask for your password, put a refund link in a text, or text you from any number except 5678 or 4478. If a message or caller pushed you to ring a number, check it here first.
Last checked against ird.govt.nz on 1 November 2026.
Log in at ird.govt.nz, typed yourself. Real messages from IRD appear there.
Type it yourself to find the right number to call.
The Department of Internal Affairs scam text service.
Yes. It's Inland Revenue's number for personal tax enquiries in New Zealand, listed on IRD's own phone numbers page. But a caller showing this number may still be a scammer, because caller ID can be faked. Hang up and call it yourself.
Almost certainly not. IRD says: "If we send text (SMS) messages to New Zealand mobiles, they will come from our numbers 5678 or 4478. A text from any other number is likely a scam." IRD does not put links in its texts. Log in to myIR yourself to check.
No. In IRD's words: "We will only ask for payment using our official methods. We will never ask for your password." Anyone asking for gift cards, Bitcoin or your password is a scammer.
Hang up. Threats of immediate arrest are a classic scam trick. If you're worried you owe tax, log in to myIR or call 0800 227 774 yourself.
Call your bank straight away using the number on your card. Then call IRD on 0800 227 774 so they can protect your myIR account, and change your myIR password. Then go to What to do now.
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