Can I trust a text claiming to be from the IRS? The agency is changing its mind about SMS alerts. Here's what it will and won't send to your phone

Story by Chris Morris  Aug 21 2026

There’s a prominent page on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website that says, in part, “Taxpayers need to remember that the IRS will not contact them by text message. (1)“

Under new digital rules, though, the tax agency may, in fact, reach out to people via their phones, but not for anything to do directly with their taxes.

How do I know if the IRS is texting me?

It’s important, before anything else, to point out that the IRS will only text you if you opt in for messages. If you haven’t and get a text purporting to be from the agency, it’s almost certainly a scam.

If you have opted in, pay attention to the short code that sends the text. That’s the number that will appear on your phone as the sender. Short codes aren’t phone numbers; they’re 5- or 6-digit numbers designed for high-volume, automated messaging. You’ve likely seen them if a site has texted you a code for two-factor authentication.

The IRS uses two short codes: 91040 and 34381. The short code you will see depends on the type of text sent (3).

Why would the IRS be texting me?

The IRS will only text taxpayers for three reasons:

1. News bulletins — These alert you to new regulations and criminal investigations into tax cases. It’s a text version of the agency’s press releases.
2. Upcoming appointments — If you have an in-person appointment with a representative at the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, you can elect to receive confirmations and reminders. These will let you know when it’s your time to be seen or confirm you have checked in, but they will never send a clickable link.
3. Callbacks — Rather than waiting on hold to speak to an IRS agent, which can chew up more than 5 hours at peak times, the IRS will let you get in the queue for a digital callback service (4). The IRS will send you a text right before it calls you back. These alerts come only from the short code 34381.

What red flags should I look for?

If the text is written in a high-pressure tone, mentioning penalties or requesting immediate contact, it’s likely a scam.

Any links that come in a text from the IRS should also send up a red flag. Clicking those will likely send you to a Website that is used to steal your personal information (1) or plant malware.

Additionally, be on the lookout for a phone number to call. The IRS doesn’t send those out.

“The IRS urges taxpayers not to click links or open attachments from unexpected messages and to report suspicious IRS-related emails, DMs and texts,” the agency wrote in its 2026 Dirty Dozen report (5). “The IRS reported over 600 social media impersonators during fiscal year 2025.”