With the "official tax season" ending less than a month ago, tax scams are reaching their peak. How do you know if it's really the IRS on the phone or just a scam? Bonnie Collins at Cornell Cooperative Extension offers some tips.

Con artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. If you don’t answer, they often leave an “urgent” callback request.

First, and foremost the IRS will never call you, unless you request the call back. Their first form of notification is with a letter directly to you with the information they are questioning or have concerns for.  The IRS will never:

  • Call to demand immediate payment, nor will we call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill..
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

Email isn't safe either, the IRS has seen a surge in phishing and malware incidents so far in the 2016 tax season. The emails are designed to trick taxpayers into thinking these are official communications from the IRS.

If you do get a call or an email, here’s what you should do:

Call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040 or report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.  You can also file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.”  Get more details at IRS' web page..

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