Fake IRS / tax resolution phone calls

What it looks like

Unexpected calls from fake agencies (e.g., ‘Tax Mediation and Resolution Agency’) saying you owe taxes, offering a ‘red flag check’ or ‘IRS liability reduction program,’ or voicemails saying this may be their only attempt to reach you — aiming for SSN/info or illegal upfront fees.

Who it targets

Anyone who might believe they owe back taxes.

Red flags

• Cold call about taxes from an official-sounding but unfamiliar agency
• Programs that are not real IRS programs
• Requests for SSN or upfront fees over the phone

What to do if you clicked, paid, or replied

• Hang up; IRS’s first contact is by mail, not phone
• Check your situation only via IRS.gov and numbers listed there
• Report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Still circulating?

FTC January 2026 alert on a wave of tax phone scams.