Although it rarely occurs, individuals have been known to mistakenly receive IRS letters intended for and about other taxpayers. Such communications could be delivered via mail, email, text or fax. What should you do if you receive and open an “inadvertent unauthorized disclosure”? First, call the phone number on the notice to inform the IRS of the mistake. Then, if it’s a physical letter, reseal the envelope, write “return to sender” and post the letter. Electronic communications should be permanently deleted or destroyed after you’ve informed the IRS. Copying or sharing an inadvertent unauthorized disclosure is illegal, and violations potentially carry severe penalties.
