Tax Scams

Your phone's ringing.  It's the IRS??

Some of the most urgent calls I receive are of terrified individuals that have just been contacted via phone by the "IRS".

These callers may demand money and can sound very convincing. They can alter the caller ID, use fake IRS badge numbers and names often becoming very threatening. The IRS however has very formal processes in dealing with individuals with tax issues.   

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you should do:

• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1.800.366.4484 or at www.tigta.gov.

Some things to remember.......

The IRS will NEVER:

1. Call to demand immediate payment, without first having mailed you a bill.
2. Demand that you pay taxes without opportunity to  appeal the amount they say you owe.
3. Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes
4. Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
5. Threaten to bring in local police to have you arrested for not paying.