There are a lot of scammers out there and some of the scammers claim to be from the IRS when they demand money from you.
Here are some things the IRS does NOT do to collect your debt and if you are contacted with these demands or threats someone is trying to scam you.
Remember that the IRS will not call you to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card or a gift card, or by a Western Union wire transfer or by a cryptocurrency transfer.
The IRS will not demand that a taxpayer pay a tax bill without the opportunity to question or appeal the amount that they say you owe.
The IRS will not ask for credit card or debit card numbers over the phone.
And this is really important because scammers often do this: The IRS will not threaten to bring in local police, or bring in immigration officers or other law-enforcement to have taxpayers arrested for not paying their tax bill. The IRS also cannot threaten to revoke a driver’s license, or to cancel your business license or alter you immigration status. The IRS says “threats like these are common tactics scam artists use to trick victims into buying their schemes.”
A common way for scam artists to deliver these threats is to make robo calls with recorded announcements. Don’t waste your time even listening to these calls. Hang up and if your phone service provider allows you to, block these phone numbers.
If you are contacted by a live person, be careful what you say. Avoid using the word “yes” because they might record you saying “yes” to make unauthorized credit card and debit card transactions. It is best to simply hang up at the first indication that you are getting a call from a scammer.
However, be aware that the IRS does make live calls to taxpayers, but only after you have been sent a notice or letter. You will not get a phone call from out of the blue.
If you have a tax issue, it is always best to consult with a tax professional. Some tax issues can be solved with the IRS Fresh Start Initiative or an Offer In Compromise option. Discuss these with your tax professional. While you can talk to the IRS directly about these options understand that your tax professional may be able to raise options that the IRS will not. In fact, when you speak with the IRS directly you are probably talking with a revenue collector and not someone who can discuss options with you. These options that the IRS will volunteer will often include payment plans, and while payment plans can help you an Offer in Compromise or Fresh Start Initiative could be a much better option.
We can discuss your Fresh Start Initiative and Offer In Compromise with you directly and then talk to the right people at the IRS directly to save you time and hopefully save you money. It starts with a free phone call. Call us now.
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