Tax season means scam season for IRS impersonators.
It could be an email. It could be a phone call.
Tax accountant Janice Hayman says, "It's really scary. You have those who are pretending to be IRS agents or marshalls saying that you owe money and they're about to come and take your first born."
Maybe that's an overstatement, but they'll at least demand immediate payment, maybe with a credit card.
The real IRS would never contact you by phone or demand that you pay immediately or threaten to put you in jail.
Hayman says, if it happens to you - hang up. If the real IRS wants to get in touch with you to discuss something for real, its first step is sending you an old fashioned letter.
"The only time they could call you is if you have this ongoing exchange with them. And then of course, you'd have a number to call back and verify that it's them."
What if you do actually owe the IRS money? When it comes time to pay, do not give information over the phone. The real IRS is happy to take a check. If you prefer to use a credit card, look at the IRS website for a list of approved tax payment processors.