Orbiplot

Is it really IRS?

Official IRS domains, how well they block forged email, lookalike domains we found, and the scams currently using the IRS name. Last checked 14 October 2026.

Strong spoof protection26 unattributed lookalikes

Official IRS domains

irs.gov

Real IRS emails and websites use these domains or a subdomain of them. Anything else, including addresses that contain the IRS name, is not IRS.

Paste the sender's email address, the link, or the website from the message.

Try:

Measured from public DNS

Can someone fake a IRS email?

irs.govStrong spoof protection

Strong. irs.gov tells receiving mail servers to reject email that fakes an @irs.gov address. Scammers usually switch to lookalike domains instead, so check the domain carefully.

DMARC policy
p=reject
SPF
-all
Verified logo in inbox (BIMI)
No
Encrypted delivery (MTA-STS)
No
Email handled by
Self-hosted

Strict. Only the servers irs.gov lists may send its email, everything else fails.

DMARC is the rule a domain owner publishes telling mail servers what to do with email that pretends to come from them. The stronger it is, the more likely scammers switch to lookalike domains, which is why the next section matters.

Lookalike domain watch

Domains that imitate IRS

143

Names checked

32

Registered

26

Owner unknown, active

15

Can receive email

We check misspellings, look-alike characters, and the IRS name combined with words like “refund”, “rebate”, “tax” across common domain endings. A registered lookalike is not proof of a scam: companies often register typos of their own name to protect customers. But you should never trust a message from one.

Active, owner unknown

DomainWebsiteEmailRegisteredFirst spotted
irs.comYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irs.netYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irs.orgYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irs.appYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irs-refund.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irsrefund.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irsrebate.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irstax.comYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irs-payment.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irspayment.comYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irsclaim.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irsgov.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irs-online.comYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irsonline.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irspenalty.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irs-service.comYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irsservice.comYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irsrefund.netYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
irsrefund.infoNoCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irs-tax.netNoCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irstax.netYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irstax.infoYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irsgov.netYesNoUnknown14 October 2026
gov-irs.comYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irsonline.netYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026
irsservice.netYesCan receiveUnknown14 October 2026

Listed as plain text on purpose. Do not visit these domains.

Parked or for sale (3)
irs.helpirs-gov.comirs-service.info
Registered but not hosting a site or email (3)
irs.infoirs.onlineirs.top

Know the pattern

Scams using the IRS name

The IRS says it does not start contact with taxpayers by email, text message or social media to request personal or financial information.

Government impersonation uses fear: refunds you are owed, penalties you must pay today, or legal action.

A tax refund is waiting

A message says you are owed a refund and asks for bank or card details so it can be paid.

Pay now or face legal action

You are told you owe money or face arrest unless you pay immediately, often by gift card, wire transfer or crypto.

Unpaid toll, fine or vehicle tax

A text says you owe a small toll, fine or tax and must pay through a link today.

From people who received them

Reported IRS scam messages

No reports published for IRS yet. If you received one, sharing it helps the next person recognise it.

Step by step

How to check a message that claims to be from IRS

  1. 1

    Look at the actual sender address, not just the name. Tap or hover over the name to reveal it. It must end in @irs.gov, or a subdomain of one.

  2. 2

    Do not use links or phone numbers from the message. Type irs.gov into your browser or open the official IRS app, and check your account there.

  3. 3

    Slow down when you see urgency, small fees, gift cards, crypto, or requests for codes and passwords. Those are the levers every scam pulls.

  4. 4

    Still unsure? Paste the sender address or link into the checker above.

Questions

IRS scam FAQ

What email address does IRS use?

Genuine IRS email comes from addresses ending in @irs.gov, or a subdomain of those (for example something@mail.irs.gov). An address on any other domain, even one containing "irs", is not IRS.

Can scammers fake an @irs.gov email address?

Strong. irs.gov tells receiving mail servers to reject email that fakes an @irs.gov address. Scammers usually switch to lookalike domains instead, so check the domain carefully.

Are there websites pretending to be IRS?

On 14 October 2026 we checked 143 lookalike domain names and found 32 registered. 0 appear to be owned by IRS or a brand-protection service, 3 are parked or for sale, and 26 could not be linked to IRS while hosting a website or accepting email. A registered lookalike is not proof of a scam, but any message from one deserves suspicion.

What should I do if I clicked a link in a fake IRS message?

Do not enter anything else. If you typed a password, change it at irs.gov straight away and turn on two-step sign-in. If you entered card or bank details, call your bank using the number on your card. Then report the message using the guide below.

Help stop it

Where to report a fake IRS message

United Kingdom

  • Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
  • Forward scam texts to 7726

United States

  • Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
  • Forward phishing emails to reportphishing@apwg.org
  • Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM)

Canada

  • Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
  • Forward scam texts to 7726

Australia

  • Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au
  • Report cybercrime through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au

India

  • Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call the 1930 helpline

Germany

  • Forward phishing emails to the Phishing-Radar at phishing@verbraucherzentrale.nrw

Switzerland

  • Report phishing websites at antiphishing.ch

Anywhere

  • Report phishing websites to Google Safe Browsing at safebrowsing.google.com
  • Tell the company through its official website or app

Government & Tax

Check other companies

HMRCstrongDVLAstrongSocial Security AdministrationstrongUSCISstrongCanada Revenue AgencyweakAustralian Taxation OfficestrongmyGovstrongNHSstrongE-ZPassnoneSunPassweak

Orbiplot is not affiliated with IRS. This page is generated automatically from public data: DNS records, domain registration data (RDAP) and the Internet Archive. Lookalike domains are listed because they resemble IRS's name, not because we have confirmed any wrongdoing. If you own a domain listed here and believe it is misclassified, contact us through the site and we will review it.