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What to do if…
you receive a letter saying you may owe a penalty for an official filing you did not submit

Short answer

Do not pay or respond using the letter’s contact details. Treat it as potentially fraudulent or identity-related, and verify it directly through official agency channels you locate yourself.

Do not do these things

  • Do not call the number on the letter, click links, or scan QR codes to “verify” or “pay” before you confirm the notice is real.
  • Do not pay with gift cards or prepaid cards, or send cryptocurrency to a personal wallet — those are strong scam signals.
  • Do not provide your Social Security number, bank details, or copies of ID to an unverified contact “to clear it up.”
  • Do not ignore it completely — first confirm whether it is genuine, misdirected, or fraud.
  • Do not throw the letter away — keep it (and the envelope) as evidence.

What to do now

  1. Pause and mark it “unverified.” Your only goal right now is to confirm whether the notice is real and connected to you.
  2. Capture details without engaging. Photograph/scan the letter (front/back) and envelope. Write down: agency name, notice/letter number, reference ID, amount, deadline, and the payment instructions being demanded.
  3. Verify via official agency pathways you find independently.
    • If it claims to be the IRS, use IRS guidance on how the IRS contacts taxpayers and how to recognize scams. Verify using IRS.gov contact routes (not the letter).
    • If it’s a state filing (Secretary of State, unemployment agency, licensing board, court, etc.), go to the official state agency website (typed in manually) and use the published contact info there.
  4. Check whether there’s actually a record tied to you.
    • If it’s IRS-related and you already have access, check your IRS online account for notices/balances; otherwise verify by contacting the IRS through official channels.
    • For business filings, use your state’s official business entity search to see whether a filing exists in your name/business.
  5. If there are identity-theft signs, take one concrete identity step.
    • Report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get an FTC Identity Theft Report and a recovery plan.
    • If you believe someone is opening accounts or filing in your name, choose one: place a 1-year fraud alert or a credit freeze (freezes require contacting all three major bureaus).
  6. If it looks like IRS/Treasury impersonation, report it via official channels.
    • Use IRS guidance for reporting fake IRS or tax-related messages (for example, reporting phishing), and Treasury/TIGTA reporting routes for impersonation concerns.
  7. If you already paid or shared information, act fast on the irreversible parts.
    • Contact your bank/card issuer using the number on the back of your card or in your banking app to report fraud and stop further transfers.
    • Keep receipts, confirmation screens, and communications; don’t delete texts/emails.

What can wait

  • You do not need to “prove your innocence” today — verification comes first.
  • You do not need to pay “to stop penalties from stacking” until the real agency confirms the notice is legitimate and actually yours.
  • You do not need to decide whether to involve an attorney right now; that’s a later step if the notice is confirmed and complex.

Important reassurance

Scam letters and misdirected notices are common, and they’re designed to trigger urgency and fear. Slowing down and verifying through official channels is the safest response — it prevents the two big harms: paying a scammer or accidentally confirming personal details to a fraudster.

Scope note

This is first-step guidance to prevent loss and confirm what’s real. If the notice is confirmed genuine, the correct response depends on the agency and the specific filing/penalty type, and you may want tax/legal help for next steps.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Procedures vary by agency and state. Always use independently found official contact details before paying, sharing personal information, or agreeing you owe anything.

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