HOW do you determine if the person visiting you either at your business or at home or calling you are not an IRS imposter? Look for two forms of credentials.
IRS Knocks at your door – why it happens and what you need to do when it happens:
• Reasons why an IRS visits you either at the places of your business or at your home: 1) to discuss taxes you owed; 2) you are being audited; 3) conducting an investigation.
• When you are being audited, an IRS Revenue Agent auditor may visit you at your business or at your home. You will first be notified by mail with specific day and time of the visit. The auditor may call and confirm the scheduled day and time of the visit.
• Special Circumstances. The IRS Criminal Investigators may do a surprise visit at your business or at your home but will not demand payment. If a surprise visit does occur, look for enforcement credentials and badge.
• Two Forms of Official Credentials: 1) pocket commission; 2) HSPD-12 card a government wide secure form of identification. You have the right to obtain and see these credentials.
• Some cases are now assigned to private debt collectors beginning April 2017 under Section 32102 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) for the collection of outstanding inactive collectible accounts.
• There will be written notice to the taxpayer and representative that accounts are being transferred to private collection agencies, prior to assignment of the case to the private collectors.
• The private collection agencies will also send a separate letter to the taxpayer and representative to confirm the transfer. The private collection agencies must follow Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provisions, courteous, and respect taxpayer rights.
• To report a misconduct of a private debt collection: 1) report to TIGTA hotline 800-366-4484; or 2) write to: Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Hotline, Post Office Box 589, Ben Franklin Station Washington, DC 20044-0589. Also visit www.tigta.gov for more information.
• List of selected Private Collection Agencies: 1) CBE, P.O. Box 2217, Waterloo, IA 50704 Tel#1-800-910-5837; 2) ConServe, P.O. Box 307, Fairport, NY 14450-0307 Tel#1-844-853-4875; 3) Performant, P.O. Box 9045, Pleasanton CA 94566-9045 Tel#1-844-807-9367; 4) Pioneer, PO Box 500, Horseheads, NY 14845 Tel#1-800-448-3531.
• Payments are always directly to the U.S. Treasury and NOT to the private collection agency.
• Submit a request in writing to the private collection agency if you want to settle unpaid taxes and do not wish to work with the assigned private collection agency.
• Taxpayers accounts not assigned to private collection agencies includes declared disaster areas by the president, on installment agreement, offers-in-compromise, identity theft victims, deceased, ages 18 or under, innocent spouse cases, and others identified by the IRS.
• Most IRS impersonators will intimidate and even threaten that you will be arrested and deported if you will not comply. The scam maybe in the form of letters, e-mails, phone calls.
• Who to contact: 1) Call 800-366-4484 for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; 2) contact Federal Trade Commission by going to FTC.Gov and using “FTC Complaint Assistant”; 3) e-mail: [email protected]
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Al-os & Associates Accountancy Corporation provides accounting and tax services to individuals, corporations, LLCs and business entities. The Firm has a niche in defending.
