Tax Tip 2025-06: How taxpayers can protect themselves from gift card scams

IRS Tax Tips Jan. 17, 2025
Useful Links: IRS.gov Help For Hurricane Victims News Essentials What's Hot News Releases IRS - The Basics IRS Guidance Media Contacts Facts & Figures Around The Nation e-News Subscriptions The Newsroom Topics Multimedia Center Noticias en Español Radio PSAs Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts The Tax Gap Fact Sheets IRS Tax Tips Armed Forces Latest News IRS Resources Contact Your Local IRS Office Filing Your Taxes Forms & Instructions Frequently Asked Questions Taxpayer Advocate Service Where to File IRS Social Media	Issue Number: Tax Tip 2025-06 How taxpayers can protect themselves from gift card scams Taxpayers should be aware of gift card scams and take steps to protect themselves. Scammers may target taxpayers by asking them to pay a fake tax bill with gift cards. People should remember that the IRS never asks for or accepts gift cards as payment for a tax bill. The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. To verify it's the IRS, go to IRS.gov and verify the form or visit the Let Us Help You page to verify tax information with self-service options. Common schemes Scammers are always changing their tactics. Recently, the IRS has seen scammers: Request gift cards over the phone through a government impersonation scam or by sending a text message, email or social media message. Pose as an IRS agent and call the taxpayer or leave a pre-recorded voicemail stating they are linked to some criminal activity. Threaten or harass the taxpayer by telling them that they must pay a fictitious tax penalty. Instruct the taxpayer to buy gift cards from various stores. Pressure the taxpayer to buy gift cards, then ask the taxpayer to provide the gift card number and PIN. Who's calling Here's how taxpayers can tell it's really the IRS calling. The IRS will never: Call for immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a gift card, prepaid debit card or over social media. Demand a taxpayer pay "or else." Threaten to bring in law enforcement or immigration officers to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying. Take a taxpayers citizenship status, driver's license or business license. Identity theft actions Any taxpayer who suspects they've been the victim of a scammer should: Visit Identity Theft Central page of IRS.gov for next steps. Contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report a phone scam, and use their IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting webpage or call 800-366-4484. Report phone scams to the Federal Trade Commission with the FTC Complaint Assistant on FTC.gov, and add "IRS phone scam" in the notes. More information: Report Phishing Back to top           Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov. This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.

 

---

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

---

This email was sent to business.solutions.ve@gmail.com by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington, D.C. 20535