What You Should Know About IRS Scams

The IRS has had numerous complaints from taxpayers stating that they have been receiving phony phone calls from IRS agents.  The call seems very real as the scam artist will use false names and fake IRS identification badge numbers to try to trick you into providing information about yourself or business.  They have also been known to leave bogus messages stating “If you do not call back with 24 hours, a warrant for your arrest will be issued.”  These phone calls have been noted in every part of the country and are not targeting a specific region or specific individuals.

Below are five things to determine if the call is a scam.  The IRS will never:

1. Call you about taxes that you might owe without first mailing you an official notice.
2. Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount that they say you owe.
3. Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

If you receive a call from an individual claiming to be an IRS agent and requests payment immediately, below are some things that you should do:

1. Consult your tax preparer.
2. If you believe that you owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040 and speak with a real IRS agent which will assist you.
3. If you know that you do not owe any taxes and have no reason to believe that you should owe taxes, you should report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4884 or go to www.tigta.gov.
4. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

Remember never to give any personal information over the phone unless you are 100% for sure the call is legit.

posted by Diana Dials