The IRS does not make telephone calls to taxpayers. Anyone who receives a call purporting to be from the IRS demanding immediate tax payment should hang up the phone; it’s an imposter running a scam. Another tip-off is a demand that the tax be paid in gift cards—that is not how the IRS works. Three Pennsylvania residents were recently indicted for wire fraud for impersonating IRS agents, for example.
However, the IRS will make in-person contact. In February the Service announced that it is stepping up a program of agents making unannounced face-to-face visits to high-income taxpayers who have not filed their tax returns for 2018 and earlier years. “High income” is defined as $100,000 and up. The announcement did not specify whether the calls would be at the taxpayer’s home or place of business.
In general, these taxpayers will have been contacted earlier by mail, and so already should be aware that they are in tax trouble. Real IRS revenue officers will always provide two forms of official credentials, and both include a serial number and photo of the IRS employee. Taxpayers have the right to see each of these credentials.
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