--- title: "IRS Phone Scam: How to know for sure" description: Have you recently received a phone call from the IRS demanding payment for back taxes, tax fraud or any other tax related issue? Are they threatening legal action if you don’t arrange payment promptly? If you answered yes to these questions, the caller is most certainly not an IRS employee/agent. image: https://preferences.darkhorse.cpa/hubfs/Stock%20images/Scam%20Alert%20written%20on%20the%20road.jpeg --- [![DarkHorseText-1](https://preferences.darkhorse.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/DarkHorseText-1.png?width=871&name=DarkHorseText-1.png "DarkHorseText-1")](http:///darkhorsecpa.com) - [Dark Horse Home](https://darkhorsecpa.com/) - [Blog Home](https://preferences.darkhorse.cpa/blog) [![Learn More Here](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4714225/3c2e3081-a20f-4216-b160-9ef3038dcb02.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4714225/3c2e3081-a20f-4216-b160-9ef3038dcb02) [Ë](https://preferences.darkhorse.cpa/blog/irs-phone-scam-how-to-know-for-sure#mobile) By [Dark Horse General](https://preferences.darkhorse.cpa/blog/author/dark-horse-general) • September 7, 2018 # IRS Phone Scam: How to know for sure Have you recently received a phone call from someone claiming to represent the IRS demanding payment for back taxes, tax fraud or any other tax related issue? Are they threatening legal action if you don’t arrange payment promptly? If you answered yes to these questions, the caller is most certainly not an IRS employee/agent. This scam has proliferated all demographics for years, but is highly concentrated among senior citizens. All American taxpayers should know: - The IRS will **NEVER** initiate contact via telephone without first mailing you a bill or other correspondence prior. - They will **NEVER** demand immediate payment - They will **NEVER** require you to pay a tax balance via prepaid debit cards - They will **NEVER** ask for debit or credit card numbers - They will **NEVER** threaten to have the police arrest you for not paying Having said the above, we know that these calls can ignite fear in the recipient, regardless of how level-headed and rational they might be. If you need a second opinion to put your mind to rest, please reach out to us and we’d be happy to provide our opinion, free of charge. IRS Phone Scam: How to know for sure [![Dark Horse CPAs](https://preferences.darkhorse.cpa/hs-fs/hubfs/dark-horse-cpas_horizontal-black.png?width=1336&height=393&name=dark-horse-cpas_horizontal-black.png "Dark Horse CPAs")](https://darkhorse.cpa/) #### Dark Horse CPAs Contact Dark Horse CPAs North County SD Office 2033 San Elijo Ave #148 Cardiff, CA 92007 619-736-1404 #### Keep in Touch ### Subscribe to Our Blog © 2026 Dark Horse CPAs