Reviewed November 8, 2026.
The short version
A letter about cryptocurrency needs two checks: is it authentic, and what does this particular version require? A genuine IRS compliance letter and a fake demand to register a wallet call for very different responses. Start with the letter number, tax years, response instructions and deadline. Do not scan an unexpected QR code or supply wallet credentials to authenticate yourself.
The IRS lists Letters 6173, 6174 and 6174-A among its voluntary compliance letters. That classification does not mean an audit has begun, and it does not mean you can ignore the correspondence. The IRS directs recipients to follow the instructions in the actual letter received.
Separate authentication from tax correction
In its July 30, 2026 fraud alert, IRS Criminal Investigation describes fake letters directing cryptocurrency holders to a nonexistent Digital Asset Compliance Portal. The IRS says it does not operate that portal. A demand to enroll there is a scam. Never share private keys or recovery phrases.
Use IRS.gov reached independently to locate official information. Do not use an unfamiliar link or the sender's supplied contact details as your only authenticity check. Keep the envelope and all pages. If you shared exchange credentials, contact the exchange promptly, change affected passwords and preserve the evidence, as the IRS fraud alert recommends.
A QR code alone is not a universal test of authenticity. The portal claim, destination and actual instructions matter. Equally, a convincing IRS logo is not proof that a letter is genuine.
Read the version in front of you
The 2019 sample letters remain useful background, but they are not substitutes for instructions in a later mailing. Do not turn an older sample's response language into an evergreen rule. For these three letter numbers, use this reading checklist:
| Letter number | What to verify before taking action | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 6173 | Requested response, tax years, certification language if present, deadline and delivery address | IRS voluntary compliance instructions |
| 6174 | Whether a reply is requested and what return review or correction is directed | IRS voluntary compliance instructions |
| 6174-A | Whether a reply is requested and what reporting issue the actual mailing identifies | IRS voluntary compliance instructions |
The IRS says these voluntary inquiries are not examinations under section 7605(b). That statement is limited to the inquiry; it is not a promise about later enforcement. If another audit or IRS matter is already open, coordinate with the examiner or point of contact. The IRS guidance also explains that an extension request must follow the specific letter's instructions.
Reconcile the years, not just the exchange balance
As a practical preparation step, assemble each affected return, exchange transaction history, wallet-transfer records and the basis calculations used to report sales. Basis generally means the tax investment used to calculate gain or loss. A current wallet balance cannot explain every past sale, exchange or receipt. The IRS digital-asset FAQs distinguish acquisitions, transfers, dispositions and income events.
Compare the records with what was actually filed before choosing a correction. A notice is not, by itself, proof that every transaction was omitted. Nor does the absence of a broker form eliminate a reporting obligation. Keep the authentication question separate from whether a return needs to be filed or amended.
If a correction is needed, follow the letter's filing directions, including any required notation and address. Do not assume ordinary email is an accepted response channel: the IRS says fax or email generally is unavailable unless the letter specifically permits it. Keep a complete copy and delivery evidence.
For related guidance, read correcting cryptocurrency basis.
For related guidance, read wallet-level basis records.
Discuss your situation
For a scoped engagement inquiry, email Noah Green with a short description of the issue and any upcoming deadline. Do not send tax returns, identifying numbers, wallet keys or other sensitive records through ordinary email. Secure document instructions follow separately. Payment and your signature may initiate an engagement request; they do not mean the case has been accepted. I review the facts after payment and must countersign the engagement letter and accept the case before work begins. The accepted written engagement governs scope. Contacting me does not extend an IRS deadline.
This article provides general federal tax information, not advice for your specific facts. State and international rules may differ. No outcome is guaranteed. There is no guarantee of any specific outcome.
Sources
- IRS: Voluntary compliance letters
- IRS-CI: Fake crypto letters, July 30, 2026
- IRS: Digital-asset transaction FAQs
Prepared by Noah Green, CPA, CFE.