Preserve an unfamiliar message and verify its claims through official channels. You can ask for help understanding a tax concern without acting on payment instructions in that message.
Record what actually arrived
Note the date, channel, claimed organization, and nature of the request. Keep the complete message or a record of a call without adding conclusions about legitimacy. Locate any actual IRS correspondence already received about the period. Avoid using a contact detail supplied only by the unexpected message as the sole basis for verification. The immediate task is to understand what is being claimed and which independent official information can be checked.
Discuss the account separately
An unverified contact and an existing tax balance may need different attention. Explain both in a service conversation and ask what review would involve. Do not disclose sensitive identifiers or send payment simply to complete a checklist. Clarify the proposed work and its charges before authorizing assistance. Retain later verification notes beside the original message so evidence obtained afterward does not silently replace what was said or requested at the time.