Common Scams and Fraud
Unfortunately, some groups and individuals take advantage of Montanans by pretending to be the Montana Department of Revenue or the IRS. Over the years, scam artists have tried many ways to hack into computers or to get money or personal information from Montanans who believe they are responding to legitimate calls, emails, or other inquiries.
While tax scams seem to peak during the tax filing season in the spring, they persist year-round. With technology always changing, scammers are always trying new ways to get your information or your money.
Common Scams
The Scam
A fraudulent text message is sent claiming to be a link to your Montana property appraisal.
The Truth
The Montana Department of Revenue sends Property Appraisal Notices by mail.
If you receive a message and are not sure what to do, please contact our Citizen Services Call Center at (406) 444-6900.
The Scam
The scammer calls or sends a letter claiming that you have taxes or other overdue fees, and if you don’t pay up right now, you could face arrest, a lawsuit, or loss of your home.
The Truth
The Montana Department of Revenue will not make threats or demand money over the phone.
In some cases, we may call to confirm details on your income tax return or follow up after a letter is sent about a remaining tax liability or payment plan.. However, we will never threaten arrest.
No one from your local sheriff’s office or police department will call you seeking funds on behalf of the Department of Revenue.
The Scam
The scammer claims to have a rebate or refund for you. But to receive the money, you’ll have to send a processing fee or other payment to the caller.
The Truth
This is not how the department distributes refunds. If you are owed money by the department, you will receive it either by check or direct deposit into your bank account.
We will never ask you to pay a fee to receive your own money.
The Scam
The scammer attempts to trick you into providing personal and financial information with an email or deceptive website. The scammer may ask you for information directly or try to get you to place harmful software on your device to compromise its security and steal information.
Protecting Yourself
Do not trust links in unsolicited emails.
If an email claims to be from the Department of Revenue and you are not sure it is legitimate, contact our Call Center at (406) 444-6900.
If you receive a phishing attempt related to federal taxes or the Internal Revenue Service, report it at phishing@irs.gov.
The Scam
The scammer uses stolen personal information to file a tax return in your name and try to steal your refund. Often, the scammer uses phishing schemes to trick you or your business into providing the personal information needed to file your tax return.
Protecting You
We take steps to protect you by verifying your tax information. This includes using identity verification letters and other measures to check for identity theft.
It’s because of these steps that it could take up to 90 days to process your return and send you your refund.
Learn more about our Identity Verification Process.
If you have been the victim of identity theft, we can help you recover.
Scammers also target tax preparers and employers with schemes designed to steal personal information.
Learn more about the various scams targeting businesses.
Identity Verification Letters
While Montanans need to stay vigilant about unsolicited emails, calls, and letters, they should be also aware that the Department of Revenue may send taxpayers a letter to verify their identity. This is a legitimate request from the Montana Department of Revenue, and taxpayers receiving this letter should respond as soon as possible with the requested materials to avoid any delay in receiving their refund.
Learn more about Identity Verification letters.
Protect Yourself
When in Doubt, Contact Us
If you are unsure whether a caller is actually from the department, hang up and contact our Call Center at (406) 444-6900. We can confirm if the caller is a department employee.
If you are the target of a scam related to federal taxes, you can report them to the Internal Revenue Service.
Protect Your Refund
We do everything we can to protect your refund. Here are three things you can do to help prevent fraud and get your refund more quickly:
- File Electronically
- Keep your address up-to-date. Especially if you’re a first-time Montana tax filer.
- Don’t wait until the last minute. File your state and federal income tax returns early.
It can take up to 90 days to issue your refund.
Learn more about Individual Income Tax Refunds.