Getting repeated phone calls claiming I owe back taxes - but I received refunds!

These are almost certainly scam calls. The IRS typically doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers through phone calls - they send letters through the mail first. This is especially true when it comes to tax debts. If you received your refunds, that's a strong indication that your returns were processed correctly. To verify your tax status, you have several options: 1) Create or log into your account at irs.gov and check your tax records 2) Call the IRS directly at their official number (1-800-829-1040) 3) Visit a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center (make an appointment first) If you have an accountant or tax preparer, they can also help verify your tax status. But don't call back the number that's been calling you, as that will only confirm to scammers that your number is active.

I went through something similar last year and was freaking out until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). You can upload your tax documents there and they'll analyze everything to confirm whether you actually have any tax issues. Their AI scans for discrepancies between what you filed and what might trigger IRS concerns. In my case, it confirmed my returns were filed correctly and showed me that the calls were definitely scams. The system even explained exactly why my filing pattern wouldn't trigger any legitimate IRS concerns. It gave me peace of mind knowing for sure I was in the clear rather than just assuming the calls were fake.

I was really doubtful about what people were saying about taxr.ai, but after getting harassed with calls claiming I owed $5,800 in back taxes, I decided to try it. I uploaded my last two years of returns and got a complete analysis showing exactly why my returns were properly filed. The system confirmed I had zero balance due and showed me specific verification codes from my return that proved it had been processed correctly. It also flagged the phone number that had been calling me as a known scam. I've been confidently ignoring the calls since then, and I've even reported the numbers to the FTC. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

If you're concerned these might be legitimate IRS calls (even though they're probably scams), you should try getting through to the IRS directly to verify. But as someone who's spent HOURS trying to reach an actual human at the IRS, I can tell you it's nearly impossible without help. I finally used https://claimyr.com after seeing it recommended, and they got me through to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual endless hold time. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent confirmed I had no outstanding tax issues despite getting similar scam calls. It was a huge relief to hear directly from the IRS that everything was good on my account.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I was also getting scam calls about supposed tax debts and needed peace of mind. The service actually worked exactly as described. I got connected to an IRS representative in about 35 minutes (way better than the 3+ hours I spent on my previous attempt). The agent confirmed I had zero balance due and that my account was in good standing. They also noted that there had been no collection actions initiated on my account, confirming the calls were definitely scams. I've been confidently blocking those numbers ever since. Saved me so much time and worry!

This is happening to a TON of people right now. My sister, two coworkers, and I have all gotten these calls in the past few months. The scammers are super aggressive this year for some reason. One thing I found that works is answering and just staying completely silent - they usually hang up after about 15 seconds and eventually call less often. Apparently when you speak, it confirms to their system that they've reached a real person.

Just want to add an important warning - NEVER give these callers any personal information and NEVER agree to pay anything! A friend of mine got scammed out of $2,400 because the caller knew some basic info about him (probably from data breaches) which made the call seem legitimate. The scammers had him buy Target gift cards and read the numbers to them over the phone. The real IRS will NEVER ask for gift cards as payment!

I've been dealing with these exact same calls! What helped me was creating an account on the IRS website (irs.gov) and checking my tax transcript directly - it shows your complete tax history and any balances owed. Since you received your refunds, you're almost certainly fine, but seeing it officially documented gave me complete peace of mind. Another red flag with these scam calls is that they often demand immediate payment and threaten arrest or asset seizure. The real IRS sends multiple written notices before taking any collection action, and they accept standard payment methods like checks or bank transfers - never gift cards or cryptocurrency. If you want to be 100% sure, you can also request a tax account transcript by mail using Form 4506-T. It's free and comes directly from the IRS, so you'll have official documentation of your tax status. Stay strong and don't let these scammers stress you out!