► Latest IRS Impersonation Scam Update: TIGTA Unveils New Flyer Warning Taxpayers About Impersonation Scam... learn more.
► Prior scam alerts
► If you believe you have been a victim of an IRS Impersonation Scam, contact us. ► View this Public Service Announcement video.
► Downloadable IRS Scam Files:
Warning Flyer,
5X8 Poster,
11X17 Poster &
Slam the Scam Flyer.
► TIGTA partners with the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative, view webinar.
► If you lost money to IRS scammers via Western Union, you may be able to file a claim to recover funds.
Visit the Federal Trade Commission's website to learn more and get started.
Thank you for contacting the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Hotline. We have received your submission. Someone from our team will contact you if we need additional information. Please note that TIGTA will not take action on submissions that do not fall within its investigative jurisdiction.
TIGTA Office of Investigations (OI) investigates three primary areas of concern: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee integrity, IRS employee and infrastructure security, and external attempts to corrupt tax administration. Each of these areas is described in more detail below.
IRS Employee Integrity
TIGTA OI investigates IRS employee misconduct allegations. For example:
Extorting money from taxpayers
Soliciting bribes to reduce or eliminate a tax debt
Stealing tax payments
Abusing taxpayer rights
Accessing or disclosing tax information without proper authorization
Fraud or misconduct by contractors acting on behalf of the IRS
IRS Employee and Infrastructure Security
TIGTA OI investigates threats to IRS employees and/or infrastructure. For example:
Threatening an IRS employee with physical harm
Threatening to damage or destroy an IRS office location
Sending mail to an IRS office that contains harmful chemicals or substances
External Attempts to Corrupt Tax Administration
TIGTA OI investigates bribery overtures by taxpayers, manipulation of IRS systems and programs, misuse of Treasury symbols and/or names, impersonation of IRS officials, theft of Federal tax refunds, and tax return preparer misconduct that does not involve the filing of fraudulent tax returns. For example:
Offering a bribe to an IRS employee to reduce or eliminate a tax debt
Misuse of IRS computer systems
Impersonating an IRS employee to steal money from taxpayers
Stealing tax refund payments
Forging, altering, or counterfeiting tax refund checks
For additional resources related to some of the more common items submitted to TIGTA, please see below.
Our hotline cannot assist if your identity or the identity of your dependent(s) has been compromised. You MUST follow the steps outlined at https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central for assistance.
ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENT (EIP) STATUS and/or RECOVERY REBATE CREDITS, E.G. “WHERE IS MY EIP”
Our hotline cannot assist with tax-related questions, such as the status of your Federal income tax refund. You MUST contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or visit www.irs.gov for assistance. If you need assistance to resolve tax problems with the IRS, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service at 1-877-777-4778 or visit https://www.irs.gov/taxpayer-advocate.
TAX RETURN SUBMISSION
Tax returns MUST be submitted directly to the IRS. We recommend that you submit your tax return(s) to the IRS by following the instructions outlined at https://www.irs.gov/filing.
QUESTIONS ON, OR STATUS OF, COMPLAINT
If you wish to have a copy of the information you submitted, you MUST file a written request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Please refer to the FOIA instructions found on TIGTA’s website at https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/important_foia.shtml.
FOIA requests MUST be signed and submitted by fax to (202) 622-3339, by e-mail to FOIA.Reading.Room@tigta.treas.gov, or mailed to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Office of Chief Counsel - Disclosure Branch, 1401 H Street, N.W., Suite 469, Washington, DC 20005.
Our hotline cannot assist with any questions related to your State tax return. Inquiries regarding your State taxes MUST be directed to your State tax authority.
Our hotline cannot assist with fraud or scams involving Social Security. You MUST contact the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline at https://oig.ssa.gov/report for assistance.
