Bookmark and Share [ [link removed] ]

a { color:#0073AF !important;} a:hover { color:#004673 !important;} <!-- body { font-family: arial; } p { font-size: 12px; } li { font-size: 12px; } h2 { font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;} -->
IRS.gov Banner
IRS Tax Tips Nov. 25, 2025

Useful Links:

IRS.gov [ [link removed] ]

Help For Hurricane Victims [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

News Essentials

What's Hot [ [link removed] ]

News Releases [ [link removed] ]

IRS - The Basics [ [link removed] ]

IRS Guidance [ [link removed] ]

Media Contacts [ [link removed] ]

Facts & Figures [ [link removed] ]

Around The Nation [ [link removed] ]

e-News Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

The Newsroom Topics

Multimedia Center [ [link removed] ]

Noticias en Español [ [link removed] ]

Radio PSAs [ [link removed] ]

Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts [ [link removed] ]

The Tax Gap [ [link removed] ]

Fact Sheets [ [link removed] ]

IRS Tax Tips [ [link removed] ]

Armed Forces [ [link removed] ]

Latest News [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

IRS Resources

Contact Your Local IRS Office [ [link removed] ]

Filing Your Taxes [ [link removed] ]

Forms & Instructions [ [link removed] ]

Frequently Asked Questions [ [link removed] ]

Taxpayer Advocate Service [ [link removed] ]

Where to File [ [link removed] ]

IRS Social Media [ [link removed] ]

 

________________________________________________________________________


Issue Number:  Tax Tip 2025-69

*Don’t let grinchy scammers ruin holiday gift card giving*

Taxpayers should be aware of gift card scams year-round but be especially cautious during this time of year when requests for gift cards are common. They may also use a compromised email account to send emails requesting gift card purchases for friends, family or co-workers. Since 2019, [email protected] has received over 1,000 gift card phishing emails averaging 200 per year. Most of these gift card phishing emails do not reference the IRS.

The IRS *never* asks for or accepts gift cards as payment for a tax bill.

*Common holiday scams*
The IRS sees a variety of scams as thieves are always changing their tactics. During the holiday season thieves could also:


* Request gift cards over the phone, sending a text message, email or social media message through a government impersonation scam.
* Pose as an IRS agent and call the taxpayer or leave a voicemail with a callback number informing the taxpayer that they are linked to some criminal activity.
* Threaten or harass the taxpayer by telling them that they must pay a fictitious tax penalty.

Criminals often ask the victim to purchase gift cards from various stores so as not to arouse suspicion with store employees. Once the taxpayer buys the gift cards, the scammer will ask the taxpayer to provide the gift card number and PIN.

*How to tell if it's really the IRS calling*
Here are some tips on how to tell it’s the IRS calling [ [link removed] ]. Remember the IRS will *never*:


* Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a gift card, prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes.
* Demand that taxpayers pay taxes without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they owe. All taxpayers should be aware of their rights [ [link removed] ].
* Threaten to bring in local police, immigration officers or other law enforcement to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.
Threaten to revoke the taxpayer's driver's license, business licenses or immigration status.

*What to do if targeted by a scam*
Anyone who has been a target of a scam should contact the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to report a phone scam. Use the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting [ [link removed] ] webpage or call 800-366-4484 [ tel:800-366-4484 ]. Taxpayers targeted by phone scams can also report to the Federal Trade Commission [ [link removed] ] or email IRS at [email protected].

*More information*


* Consumer Alerts [ [link removed] ]
* Dirty Dozen [ [link removed] ]
* Report Phishing [ [link removed] ] 

Subscribe to IRS Tax Tips [ [link removed] ]

Back to top [ #top ]

 

________________________________________________________________________

FaceBook Logo [ [link removed] ]  YouTube Logo [ [link removed] ]  Instagram Logo [ [link removed] ]  Twitter Logo [ [link removed] ]  LinkedIn Logo [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov [ [link removed] ].

This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. *Please Do Not Reply To This Message.*



 

________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [ [link removed] ].


body .abe-column-block {min-height: 5px;} ________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington, D.C. 20535 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;}