Tax Fraud Hotline
For people who want to make a difference!
Email: taxfraud.voicemail@dc.gov
Phone: (800) 380-3495
Mail: Government of the District of Columbia
Office of Tax and Revenue
Attn: Tax Fraud Hotline
1101 4th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024
The purpose of the Tax Fraud Hotline is to encourage individuals to report information regarding tax fraud. All complaint(s) and/or allegations(s) will be thoroughly evaluated and, where appropriate, investigated in a timely manner. With this information, further tax fraud can be prevented.
All identity information of the reporter will remain confidential
What should be reported to the Tax Fraud Hotline?
Examples of tax fraud that should be reported include:
- Failure to file tax returns
- Failure to pay or correctly report taxes
- False Schedule H returns
- Claiming of false dependents
- Fraudulent DC employee withholding allowance certificate (Form D-4)
- Fraudulent employer withholding tax statement (Form W-2)
- Fraudulent returns and return preparation schemes
- Erroneous claims for real property and tax abatement programs
- Sale of Social Security numbers for dependents
- Tax evasion activity
- Unlicensed businesses
- Unrecorded payments to employees
- Unreported income
- Inappropriate actions by Office of Tax and Revenue employees
How can I report tax fraud or tax abuse to the District of Columbia?
To report tax fraud or tax abuse you can either:
- call (800) 380-3495 to have a Tax Fraud Information Referral D-3949A mailed to you. The Office of Tax and Revenue no longer accepts alleged tax law violation referrals over the phone. Or
- you can use the link below to fill out the form online. In accordance with tax return confidentiality laws, individuals who report tax fraud will not receive status or progress updates.
In accordance with tax return confidentiality laws, individuals who report tax fraud will not receive status or progress updates.
Tax Fraud Referral Form
Who operates the Hotline?
The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) operates the Tax Fraud Hotline. CID will safeguard the identity of individuals who report tax fraud, and investigations into complaints/allegations will be handled by the appropriate OTR staff.
What is Tax-related Identity Theft?
Tax-related Identity Theft is the fastest growing area of fraud. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses a taxpayer's stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. Below are common scams that are prevalent this year that are used to steal identifying information from taxpayers.
Common Scams:
Phishing Emails and Fake Websites
Scammers send emails posing as the IRS or other tax agencies, requesting personal or financial information. DC Office of Tax and Revenue will never send you an email requesting personal or financial information.
Phone Scams/ Text Message (Impersonating the IRS or State Tax Agency)
Fraudsters call taxpayers, claiming they owe taxes and must provide payment or personal information immediately. They may threaten arrest, deportation, or license suspension to pressure victims
Stolen Mail and Paper Documents
Thieves steal W-2s, tax forms, or financial statements from mailboxes. Un-shredded tax documents discarded in the trash can be retrieved and used fraudulently
Fake Tax Preparers
Some scammers pose as tax professionals to collect SSNs, bank details, and personal data. They may file fraudulent returns and redirect refunds to their own accounts.
What to do if you find that you are the victim of tax related Identity Theft:
- Provide the following information to the Customer Service Administration
- Taxpayer ID OR Driver’s License OR State Issued Picture ID
- A completed and signed D-3949A.
- The true return (if applicable)
- A copy of a Police Report. (optional)
- Fraudulent refund check (if applicable)
- Copy of returns filed in another jurisdiction (if applicable)
- IRS Transcript (if applicable)
- Any other supporting documentation to substantiate refund claim, such as schedules and statements, if applicable.
- If a taxpayer claims identity theft when their respective tax return is assigned to the Return Integrity Unit.
- The taxpayer should contact the Return Integrity Unit at (202) 741-8629 for further assistance.
- The specialist in the Return Integrity Unit will work with the taxpayer to determine what actions are necessary to solve the Verification Response Case.
- Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to determine if your federal tax return was also affected by Identity Theft. The telephone number for IRS is (800) 829-1040. The IRS also provides information on identity theft at their Identity theft central website, https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-central
- Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report identity theft. Consumers can report identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov, the federal government’s one-stop resource to help people report and recover from identity theft. The site provides step-by-step advice and helpful resources like easy-to-print checklists and sample letters. For further assistance, individuals can also contact the FTC at (877) 438-4338,