Double Check

Is the IRS 'final notice' call about legal action a scam?

A typical version of this message
This is the final notice from the Internal Revenue Service. A lawsuit has been filed against your name for tax fraud. If you do not respond immediately, an arrest warrant will be issued. Press 1 to speak with an IRS agent and resolve this matter before enforcement action begins.
Why it is a government impersonation
Yes. The IRS opens contact about tax problems by postal mail — not by robocall, text, or email — and it does not threaten arrest, demand payment by gift card or wire, or put deadlines measured in hours on anything. 'Press 1' robocalls are dialed to millions of numbers; the threat of a warrant is theater aimed at making you pay before you check.
What to do
Hang up without pressing anything. If you are worried you genuinely owe tax, check your account directly at irs.gov or call the IRS on its published number. Report the robocall at reportfraud.ftc.gov. No government agency settles legal cases over the phone with gift cards — anyone who asks is a scammer, every time.

Got a message like this? Paste it into our free checker and get an answer in seconds.

Check a suspicious message

Or get the Double Check app for you or your parents.

Checked by Double Check on August 31, 2026. This page documents a widely reported scam pattern; the example wording is representative, with links and personal details replaced. See more in the scam guide or recent answers.