Scammers are calling people unexpectedly and claiming they owe back taxes, but these calls are not legitimate. The callers often use official sounding names or say they are part of a tax relief or mediation program to seem credible. They may leave urgent voicemails or warn that this is their only attempt to reach you, hoping to pressure you into responding quickly.

The goal of these calls is to get your personal information or money. The IRS does not contact people out of the blue by phone to demand payment. If you actually owe taxes, the IRS will first send official notices by mail and will not threaten arrest or demand immediate payment over the phone.

If you receive a call like this, hang up and do not share personal or financial information. If you are concerned about your tax status, contact the IRS directly using contact information from IRS.gov. You can also report tax related scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.