The IRS has always been a target for scams. Recently, the scams have been telephone calls to taxpayers. The caller will claim to work for the IRS and will demand payment of taxes immediately or will threaten action such as arrest, deportation or license revocation. These callers may demand money or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing private information. These con artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the call is coming directly from the IRS office. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. If you do not answer, they often leave an “urgent” callback request. Please do not be fooled. Do not fall victim to the scam artist by giving out more personal information like your social security number, bank account, credit card, etc.
What should you do if this happens to you?
Do not respond to the scam artist at all. Hang up. Yes, hang up! Contact your tax professional for assistance. You can call the IRS to inquire about your account status as well. If you call the IRS, then you know you are speaking to a real agent.
The IRS will always send correspondence in the form of a letter to the taxpayer. This will occur multiple times if the taxpayer is truly delinquent. The IRS may send certified letters stating there will be a levy placed on the taxpayer’s assets and the IRS can also place a garnishment on your paycheck. However, unless the taxpayer makes telephone contact with the IRS, the IRS will not contact the taxpayer by telephone and these steps will occur via letter.
The IRS does not use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue. For more information on reporting tax scams, go to irs.gov and type “scam” in the search box. Remember, for your own wellbeing, you should hang up immediately upon receiving a call from the IRS.
About the Author
Jessica Ogle, CPA
Dulin, Ward & DeWald, Inc.
jogle@dwdcpa.com
(260) 423-2414
dwdcpa.com
