What Do I Do If I Receive a Suspicious IRS-Related Email?

As it states on the IRS website, the IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. This includes requests for PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

The IRS instructs: If you receive an email claiming to be from the IRS that contains a request for personal information, taxes associated with a large investment, inheritance or lottery.

1. Don't reply.
2. Don't open any attachments. They can contain malicious code that may infect your computer or mobile phone.
3. Don't click on any links. Visit our identity protection page if you clicked on links in a suspicious email or website and entered confidential information.
4. Forward - preferably with the full email headers - the email as-is to us at phishing@irs.gov. Don't forward scanned images because this removes valuable information.
5. Delete the original email.