IRS Tax Refund Email — How to Spot This Common Scam
You received an email claiming to be from the IRS about an unclaimed tax refund. It asks you to click a link and enter personal information to claim your money. The IRS does not initiate contact by email about refunds. This is a scam.
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How This Scam Works
Critical Risk — Government Impersonation
The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. Any email claiming to be from the IRS about a tax refund is a scam.
You receive an email that appears to be from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claiming you are entitled to an unclaimed tax refund. The email asks you to click a link and provide your Social Security number, filing status, and bank account information to claim the money.
The link leads to a fake IRS website that captures your sensitive personal information. Scammers use this information for identity theft, including filing fraudulent tax returns in your name to claim real refunds. Some versions threaten penalties or legal action if you don't respond, adding a sense of urgency.
According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), IRS impersonation scams have affected hundreds of thousands of Americans. The IRS itself warns that email is never used to initiate contact about refunds, bills, or tax issues. The FTC reported that government impersonation scams cost Americans $618 million in losses in 2023.
Red Flags
- Claims to be from the IRS and mentions an unclaimed tax refund
- Asks for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card details
- Sender address is not from a .gov domain
- Contains a link to a website that is not irs.gov
- Threatens penalties, arrest, or legal action if you don't respond
The IRS communicates with taxpayers by postal mail. They never initiate contact via email, text messages, or social media to request personal or financial information.
What You Should Do
What To Do
- Do not click any links or download any attachments
- Do not provide your Social Security number or banking details
- Check your refund status at irs.gov/refunds using the 'Where's My Refund?' tool
- Report the email to the IRS through their official phishing page at irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing
- Delete the email from your inbox
How to Verify Legitimately
To check your tax refund status, go directly to irs.gov and use the "Where's My Refund?" tool. You will need your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact refund amount from your tax return. The IRS also offers a free online account at irs.gov/account where you can view your tax records.
Sources
- Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) — IRS impersonation scam reports
- FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023
- IRS: Report phishing