Useful Links:
IRS.gov
Help For Hurricane Victims
News Essentials
What's Hot
News Releases
IRS - The Basics
IRS Guidance
Media Contacts
Facts & Figures
Around The Nation
e-News Subscriptions
The Newsroom Topics
Multimedia Center
Noticias en Español
Radio PSAs
Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts
The Tax Gap
Fact Sheets
IRS Tax Tips
Armed Forces
Latest News
IRS Resources
Compliance & Enforcement News
Contact Your Local IRS Office
Filing Your Taxes
Forms & Instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
Taxpayer Advocate Service
Where to File
IRS Social Media
|
Issue Number: Tax Tip 2018-111
Here’s how the IRS contacts taxpayers
Everyone should know how the IRS contacts taxpayers. This will help people avoid becoming a victim of scammers who pretend to be from the IRS with a goal of stealing personal information. Here are some facts about how the IRS communicates with taxpayers:
- The IRS doesn't normally initiate contact with taxpayers by email.
- The agency does not send text messages or contact people through social media.
- When the IRS needs to contact a taxpayer, the first contact is normally by letter delivered by the U.S. Postal Service. Fraudsters will send fake documents through the mail, and in some cases will claim they already notified a taxpayer by U.S. mail.
- Depending on the situation, IRS employees may first call or visit with a taxpayer. In some instances, the IRS sends a letter or written notice to a taxpayer in advance, but not always.
- IRS revenue agents or tax compliance officers may call a taxpayer or tax professional after mailing a notice to confirm an appointment or to discuss items for a scheduled audit.
-
Private debt collectors can call taxpayers for the collection of certain outstanding inactive tax liabilities, but only after the taxpayer and their representative have received written notice.
- IRS revenue officers and agents routinely make unannounced visits to a taxpayer’s home or place of business to discuss taxes owed, delinquent tax returns or a business falling behind on payroll tax deposits. IRS revenue officers will request payment of taxes owed by the taxpayer. However, taxpayers should remember that payment will never be requested to a source other than the U.S. Treasury.
- When visited by someone from the IRS, the taxpayers should always ask for credentials. IRS representatives can always provide two forms of official credentials: a pocket commission and a Personal Identity Verification Credential.
More Information:
Share this tip on social media -- #IRSTaxTip: Here’s how the IRS contacts taxpayers https://go.usa.gov/xUKQn
Back to Top
Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov.
This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.
|