President Trump brags about Republican tax cuts
President Donald Trump touted the gains from Republican tax cuts in his 2026 State of the Union address.
- The IRS will always contact you first by U.S. mail, not by phone or text message.
- Scammers can pose as tax officials and steal your money and personal information.
- The IRS does not ask for gift card payments, threaten to report you to law enforcement, or accept payments on social media.
The phone is an alarming sound. You are behind on your taxes and need to resolve it immediately.
This call will be from the Tax Mediation and Resolution Agency, the Tax Resolution Supervision Bureau, or other likely public agency.
they don’t exist.
“We are receiving a large number of reports of telephone scams claiming that you are delinquent on your taxes,” the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Alert said. “But it’s not the IRS calling, it’s the scammers calling.”
First of all, know this. Initial communication from the IRS regarding all matters, including taxes, will always be by U.S. mail and never by phone or text message.
What are tax fraudsters aiming for?
According to the FTC, scammers typically want money, personal information, or both.
“They will say you don’t pay your taxes, do a ‘red flag check’ on your credit, and offer to connect you with a ‘tax resolution officer’ who can help you apply for the ‘IRS Liability Reduction Program.’ But they are not real programs, and that is a sign to end the call,” the FTC said.
Often, they will ask for your social security number or attempt to charge you an “illegal upfront fee” that can amount to thousands of dollars to reduce your tax liability. The FTC says these services rarely resolve debts and may not even send the IRS documentation for the hardship programs they advertise.
Be wary of scammers trying to accept payments online, especially those asking for gift cards or prepaid debit cards.
How can I tell if a call or text message is from the IRS?
The IRS will only send you an email or text message if you have your permission, the agency said. The IRS or a private collection agency may call you to address an issue with your account. In some cases, the IRS uses automated messages that simply direct you to IRS.gov to safely manage your account, make a payment, or resolve an issue without sharing your specific details.
The IRS will not:
- Send direct messages or get paid on social media
- Accept gift cards or prepaid debit cards as payment
- Calls with automated messages that threaten or direct you to websites that are not IRS.gov
- Threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials
- Obtain citizenship status, driver’s license, or business license.
- Mail tax debt resolution advertisements
What should I do if I receive a call regarding unpaid taxes?
According to the FTC:
- Never give out personal or financial information to an unexpected caller. It’s probably a scammer aiming to drain your bank account or steal your personal information.
- hang up. Do not return voicemails.
- Please check through IRS.gov. For reliable information about your tax situation, contact the IRS directly. Need to talk to someone? Use only the phone numbers on the IRS website. Never use it from a phone call or text message.
- Read more about government fraud techniques. Start at ftc.gov/imposters, and if you see a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
IRS fraud must also be reported to the IRS. On February 26, the IRS launched a new webpage that makes it easier for taxpayers to report suspected tax evasion, fraud, evasion, or other tax-related misconduct.
Where is my refund?
According to the IRS, if you choose direct deposit when applying, you should receive it within five days of processing. Refunds by mail may take several weeks.
More than 9 out of 10 refunds are issued within 21 days, according to the IRS website.
Your return may be delayed if there are errors or omissions in the information, or if you make changes after submission.
You can check the status of your return at irs.gov/wheres-my-refund or by using the IRS2GO mobile app.
If you filed an amended return, visit irs.gov/filing/wheres-my-amended-return.
As of Feb. 20, the IRS had processed more than 41.03 million returns and refunded nearly $110 billion, with an average refund amount of $3,804, the agency reported.
CA Bridges is a journalist on the service journalism Connect team at USA TODAY Network-Florida. Sign up for our free newsletter, Florida TODAY, to get all of Florida’s best content straight to your inbox every weekday.
