That Voicemail About Your IRS Balance Is a Scam. Here Is What to Do.

Tax season brings out more than just paperwork. Every year, scammers ramp up their activity around the filing deadline, and 2026 is no different. One scam making the rounds right now involves a voicemail, often automated, claiming you have an outstanding balance with the IRS or unfiled returns on your account. It sounds official. It is not.

Here is what you need to know about this scam, how to recognize it, and what to do if you receive one of these messages.

What the Scam Sounds Like

The voicemail typically goes something like this:

"This is an important notice regarding your tax account. Our records show a possible balance or unfiled returns associated with your file. This may qualify you for the IRS Fresh Start Program. Please call us back immediately to avoid further action."

Some versions are more aggressive, referencing lawsuits, arrest warrants, or a final attempt to reach you before legal proceedings begin. The goal is the same in every variation: create enough urgency or fear that you call back without thinking. Do not call back.

Why This Works on People

These scams are effective because they exploit real anxieties. Many people are not sure exactly where they stand with the IRS. They may have had a complicated tax year, switched jobs, started a business, or simply worry they missed something. A voicemail that references "your account" and uses official-sounding language is designed to feel credible, even when nothing in it is.

The mention of the "IRS Fresh Start Program" is a common hook. The Fresh Start program is a real IRS initiative dating back to 2011, which expanded options for taxpayers struggling to pay their tax debt, including installment agreements and offers in compromise. Scammers and predatory tax relief companies have latched onto that name for years because it sounds both legitimate and appealing. The IRS does not call you to offer enrollment in this or any other program out of the blue.

The Red Flags to Know

If you receive a voicemail or call related to your taxes, these are the clearest indicators it is a scam:

• It came out of nowhere. The IRS always sends written correspondence before making any phone contact. A cold call or voicemail about a balance you were not already aware of in writing is not how the IRS operates.
• It threatens immediate legal action. Real IRS communications do not threaten arrest, lawsuits, or law enforcement action in a voicemail. That language is a pressure tactic.
• It asks you to call a number they provide. Never use a phone number given to you in a suspicious voicemail or text. If you need to contact the IRS, use a number you find directly on IRS.gov.
• It mentions gift cards, wire transfers, or prepaid debit cards. The IRS does not accept these forms of payment under any circumstances. If anyone on the other end of a call asks for payment this way, it is fraud.
• It uses automated or robocall delivery. The IRS does not leave threatening automated voicemails.

What the IRS Actually Does

Understanding standard IRS procedure goes a long way in recognizing what is not standard.

When the IRS needs to reach you about a balance, an audit, or an unfiled return, their first step is always a letter sent through the US Postal Service. That letter will include specific information about your account, the nature of the issue, and instructions for responding. You will have time to respond and, in most cases, the opportunity to work with a tax professional before any further action is taken.

The IRS will not call you without prior written notice. They will not demand immediate payment over the phone. They will not threaten arrest or legal action without first going through their established correspondence process. If you ever receive a call from someone claiming to be an IRS agent, you are entitled to ask for their name, badge number, and callback number, and then verify that information independently through IRS.gov.

What to Do If You Receive One of These Calls

• Do not call the number back.
• Do not provide any personal information, including your Social Security number, bank account details, or date of birth.
• Do not make any payment.
• Delete the voicemail.
• Report the caller ID and phone number to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at tigta.treasury.gov.
• Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• If you believe your tax identity may have been compromised, visit IRS.gov for next steps.
• You can also report fake IRS communications directly through IRS.gov.

If you are genuinely unsure about your tax account status, the right move is to contact your CPA directly, not to respond to an unsolicited call.

A Note on "Fresh Start" and Similar Program Names

If you are carrying tax debt and are concerned about your options, there are legitimate resources available to you. The IRS does offer programs for taxpayers who cannot pay their full balance, including installment agreements, offers in compromise, and currently-not-collectible status. These are applied for directly through the IRS or with the help of a licensed tax professional.

No legitimate program requires you to respond to a voicemail within the hour. No credible tax professional will pressure you with threats of immediate arrest. And no real IRS agent will ask for a gift card.

Questions About Your Tax Account?

Contact Brinker Simpson and Company. Our team works with individuals and businesses across the Greater Philadelphia region on tax planning, compliance, and resolution. If something does not feel right, reach out before you react.