IRS employees can call taxpayers to schedule appointments or discuss audits, but not before trying to notify taxpayers by mail. IRS employees who conduct criminal investigations are agents of federal law and will never demand money. However, there are circumstances in which the IRS will call or go to a home or business. These include when a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill, an overdue (unfiled) tax return, or hasn't made an employment tax deposit.
An IRS employee can also view assets or visit a company as part of an ongoing collection investigation, audit, or criminal investigation. Tax officials carry two forms of official identification: IRS-issued credentials (also called pocket fees) and an HSPD-12 card. You can request this six-digit number directly from the IRS as a way to make life difficult for identity thieves. The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry are warning tax professionals about a new fraudulent email that impersonates the IRS and attempts to steal electronic filing identification numbers (eFINs).
When you are in a home or workplace, the revenue agent can also provide an additional method to verify your identification if requested. If notified early, the IRS can take steps to prevent employees from falling victim to identity thieves who file fraudulent returns in their name. Call to request immediate payment using a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card, gift card, or bank transfer. LITCs can represent you before the IRS or in court in audits, appeals, tax collection matters, and other tax disputes.
When you do so, you will be taken to a page where you will be asked for personal and financial information, from your Social Security number to your date of birth and driver's license number. Revenue officers are employees of the IRS civil police who work on cases involving an amount owed by a taxpayer or an overdue tax return. The IRS reminds taxpayers to beware of promoters who claim that their services are necessary to reach an agreement with the IRS, that their debts can be settled for “cents on the dollar” or that there is a limited period of time to resolve tax debts through the Offer in Compromise (OIC) program. These criminals, many of them organized and sophisticated unions, are redoubling their efforts to collect personal data to file fraudulent federal and state tax returns.
They also know that many taxpayers are so afraid of the IRS that they do almost anything, including sending them money or gift cards, to pay the taxes they think they owe. When you do, you'll access a web page that asks for information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, driver's license number, and other information. The IRS has established a process that will allow businesses and payroll service providers to quickly report any data loss related to the W-2 scam that is currently spreading. Use this information to provide for yourself and your family.
The IRS website is a valuable source of information and can often provide answers to many basic questions. The code addresses issues such as your right to be informed, to receive quality service, to not pay more than the right amount of tax you owe, and to challenge the IRS if you disagree with its position.
