IRS: the real contact numbers

The IRS won't call to demand immediate payment by gift card or wire transfer, and won't threaten to have you arrested. If a message or caller pushed you to ring a number, check it here first.

Last checked against irs.gov on 1 November 2026.

IRS · United States

IRS Individuals · United States 800-829-1040

Individuals800-829-1040

Matches irs.gov, checked 1 November 2026

IRS TTY/TDD · United States 800-829-4059

TTY/TDD800-829-4059

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center appointments · United States 844-545-5640

Taxpayer Assistance Center appointments844-545-5640

IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line · United States 800-829-4933

Business and Specialty Tax Line800-829-4933

The real IRS

Writes to you by mail first
Never demands payment by gift card
Never threatens arrest or deportation
Never texts you without your permission
Never asks you to pay anyone but the U.S. Treasury

THE SCAM

"You owe back taxes. Pay today"
"A warrant has been issued for your arrest"
"Pay with gift cards or a wire transfer"
"Your refund is waiting, click here"
"We will revoke your driver's license"

This is what the fake warning looks like

This is what the fake text looks like

The IRS writes to you by mail first
The web address is not irs.gov
A deadline of hours is the trick
Don't tap the link. Delete the text.

SECURITY ALERT IRS: You have an unclaimed tax refund of $1,284.50. Verify your identity to receive it: irs-refund-verify.example

Illustration of a fake pop-up. The number shown is not real.

IRS: You have an unclaimed tax refund of $1,284.50. Verify your identity to receive it: irs-refund-verify.example

Illustration of a fake text. The link shown is not real.

Safer than calling

Your IRS Online Account

irs.gov

Type it yourself. Never follow a link in a message.

A Taxpayer Assistance Center

Call 844-545-5640 for an in-person appointment.

Questions people ask

Is 800-829-1040 really the IRS?

Yes. It's the IRS help line for individuals, listed on the IRS's own contact page. But a caller showing this number may still be a scammer, because caller ID can be faked. Hang up and call it yourself.

Does the IRS phone people about unpaid tax?

It usually writes first. In the IRS's words: "The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service." A caller demanding payment today, by gift card or wire transfer, is a scammer.

A caller says I'll be arrested unless I pay now

That's a scam. The IRS doesn't threaten to bring in police or immigration officers to arrest you for not paying. Hang up.

I got a text about a tax refund

Treat it as a scam. The IRS says: "We don't send text messages without your permission." Don't tap the link. Check your refund yourself at irs.gov, typed by hand.

I paid a fake IRS caller or shared my details. What now?

Call your bank or card issuer on the number on your card. If you paid with gift cards, call the company that issued them. Report the scam to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Then go to What to do now.

Already paid, or shared your Social Security number?

What to do now

Not sure about a message you've been sent?

Check it free