Getting a letter that looks like it came from the IRS can make your stomach drop. Especially when it says you owe money and gives you a short deadline. But don’t panic. A fake IRS notice often looks official at first glance, yet a few details can give it away.

Start With the Notice Itself

Real IRS notices usually have a notice or letter number somewhere on the page. You’ll often see something such as CP2000 or CP14 near the top. The IRS also uses your name and address, along with details tied to your tax account. A vague letter that simply says you have an urgent tax problem deserves extra suspicion.

The biggest red flag is pressure. Scammers want you moving before you start thinking. They may threaten arrest or claim your property will be seized immediately if you don’t pay. The IRS generally gives taxpayers a chance to respond through its normal notice process.

Look Closely at the Payment Demand

Payment instructions can expose a scam pretty quickly. Be especially careful if the letter tells you to send money through an unusual method or asks you to buy gift cards. That’s a hard no.

• Gift cards or cryptocurrency? Walk away. The IRS doesn’t demand tax payments through gift cards, and a letter pushing this route is a massive warning sign.

• A strange payment address can be telling too, particularly if it doesn’t match the instructions available through official IRS channels.

• A QR code isn’t proof that a notice is real. Scammers can print one that sends you straight to a fake payment page.

Check Before You Call

Don’t use the phone number printed on a suspicious notice just because it looks official. Instead, find the IRS contact information through the official IRS website and compare the notice against your tax account. You can also use your IRS Online Account to check for certain notices and balances.

Watch the Language

Fake notices often lean heavily on fear. Words such as “FINAL WARNING” or “IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED” may appear in huge letters because the scam depends on urgency. Real tax notices can certainly be serious, but they’re generally more specific about the issue and what you need to do.

Be suspicious of sloppy spelling too. One typo doesn’t automatically prove a letter is fake, but several awkward phrases packed into an official-looking notice are worth noticing.

What If You’re Still Unsure?

Compare the notice with information in your IRS Online Account. If something doesn’t line up, contact the IRS using contact details you found independently through its official website.

And don’t send personal information just because the letter contains your name or other details. Scammers can get surprisingly accurate information about people.