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How to Recognize an IRS Tax Scam – and What to Do if the Tax Due Notice is Real

July 24, 2019

Hearing from the IRS is bad enough, but being contacted by a scammer posing as the IRS is even worse, or at least just annoying and frightening. IRS scams are everywhere these days, and they take many different forms. Even sophisticated taxpayers have been fooled by these fakers, sometimes losing thousands of dollars in the … Read More…

Hearing from the IRS is bad enough, but being contacted by a scammer posing as the IRS is even worse, or at least just annoying and frightening. IRS scams are everywhere these days, and they take many different forms. Even sophisticated taxpayers have been fooled by these fakers, sometimes losing thousands of dollars in the process.

If you do not want to be the next victim, you need to educate yourself about how these scams originate, what forms they take and how the perpetrators prey on an inherent fear of the IRS.

Here are some warning signs to look out for when someone claiming to be from the IRS comes calling.

1 – The tax bill comes out of the blue. Notices of taxes due are rarely surprises. If you have always paid your taxes on time, a past due notice or other scare tactics should be met with skepticism.

2 – The “agent” threatens to have you arrested. IRS agents are scary, but they will not threaten you with arrest or imprisonment before the audit process has even begun.

3 – You are offered relief in exchange for immediate payment. The process of paying overdue taxes and resolving tax disputes is long and complicated. Offers of immediate settlement are common signs of a scam.

4 – The caller asks you to pay your bill with gift cards. The IRS does not accept iTunes gift cards or prepaid phone cards as payment for taxes due. If the “agent” on the other end of the line asks for these payments, just hang up.

5 – You receive a phone call or a message on your cell phone. The IRS does not use phone calls as a primary means of communication. If you are not in current negotiations with the IRS, the tax agency will never call you.

6 – The communication comes via email. If you owe money to the IRS or the agency has questions about your return, they will contact you via U.S. mail. Notices of tax due that come in the form of email are always scams – and the emails themselves often harbor dangerous viruses and other malware.

Now that you know how to spot an IRS collection scam, what happens if the communication is real? What should you do if you do receive an old-fashioned snail mail notice saying you owe additional taxes? Here are some key steps to take if that dreaded letter shows up in your mailbox.

Contact A Tax Resolution Professional

If you owe back taxes to the IRS, there are some definite benefits to hiring a tax resolution service. These companies exist for a reason, and they can provide a way out for taxpayers who feel overwhelmed by the whole process.

Negotiating with the IRS on your own can be intimidating, and the tax agency may not offer you the best terms. Tax resolution firms are used to dealing with the IRS, and more often than not they can get you a better deal.

Verify Their Contact Information or Contact the IRS Directly

While it is uncommon, some scammer is using the U.S. mail to perpetrate their schemes. Before you write a check, contact the IRS and make sure the communication is legitimate.

You should look up the IRS phone number at their website irs.gov, instead of simply calling the phone number in the letter you received. If the letter is a scam, the phone number provided will send you to the perpetrators of the fraud. If you want to know the truth, contact the IRS directly.

Think About How Much You Can Afford to Pay

Paying a huge tax bill is sure to be a burden, even for middle and upper-class taxpayers. If you know you cannot afford to pay the entire amount due, think about how much you can pay, either in monthly installments or all at once.

The tax agency is often willing to work with taxpayers to pay off the amount they owe, and payment plans are common. If you plan to go this route, it pays to seek professional help – an experienced tax resolution expert can help you work out a compromise or payment plan you can afford.

Take Interest and Penalties into Account

If you receive a notice of additional taxes due, time is of the essence. Once that notice goes out, the clock starts ticking, and interest and penalties can add up fast.

The sooner you act, the sooner you can start to settle your obligation, so you can set your mind at ease and get on with the rest of your life. No one likes to owe money to the IRS, and simply being contacted can be enough to set your heart pounding. If you do find yourself in such a situation, it pays to act fast – and seek the help of an experienced tax settlement professional.

If you want an expert tax resolution professional who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. Contact Me – Ron Friedman, CPA CTRS.

 

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

As the best tax resolution and relief company in Westchester County, NY, and the tri-state area, Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro has specialists to stop the IRS and help troubled tax payers get out of IRS debt. If you have back taxes owed, unfiled tax returns, IRS levies, liens, seizures or wage garnishments, we at Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro can help you settle for a fraction of what you owe. As trusted, credible tax resolution specialists, we are vested in our client’s well-being and financial security.

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July 7, 2020Categories: Scammers, Tax Resolution StrategiesTags: irs debt, irs notices, scammers, tax help, tax resolution

Do You Owe Money to the IRS? Possible Tax Resolution Strategies to Set Your Mind at Ease

July 13, 2019

  Even for honest taxpayers, the IRS can be extremely frightening. Unlike most other government agencies, the IRS has the power to attach your wages, freeze your bank account and even confiscate your property, and that is enough to send a chill up the spine of any taxpayer. If you receive a letter from the … Read More…

 

Even for honest taxpayers, the IRS can be extremely frightening. Unlike most other government agencies, the IRS has the power to attach your wages, freeze your bank account and even confiscate your property, and that is enough to send a chill up the spine of any taxpayer.

If you receive a letter from the IRS saying that you owe additional taxes, it is important not to panic. It may be a frightening situation, but there are things you can do to settle your tax debt and get back on the good side of the IRS.

Taxpayers do have options when resolving tax disputes and paying additional taxes due, and simply knowing what those options are can set your mind at ease.

As an expert Tax Resolution Firm, we encourage all readers facing a tax problem to contact us for a free consultation Contact Me – Ron Friedman, CPA CTRS.

Regardless, it’s important to an educated taxpayer so here are three strategies you can use to resolve your tax debt and get on with the rest of your life. Not all of these options will be right for everyone, but it is important to be an informed taxpayer. The IRS may be frightening, but they can be surprisingly reasonable – if you know what to say and how to approach the situation.

Review the Amount Owed And Your Tax Return In Question

If the IRS says you owe money, you should not simply assume they are right. The tax agency does make mistakes, as do tax preparers and ordinary taxpayers.

Whether you filed your taxes on your own or hired someone else to do it for you, it is important to examine your return and compare what you find with what the IRS is claiming. It pays to seek professional help for this tax review, even if you originally filed your own taxes. A professional with IRS experience may be able to uncover errors and inconsistencies you would have missed on your own, and that could end up saving you money.

There is no guarantee this review will eliminate the extra taxes the IRS says you owe, but it never hurts to be sure. There have been many cases in which taxpayers who thought they owed money to the IRS ended up owing nothing – or even being due a refund from the IRS.

Set Up a Payment Plan

Getting a notice of additional tax due from the IRS is frightening, especially if you cannot afford to pay what the agency says you owe. Keep in mind, however, that you do not necessarily have to pay the bill all at once.

The IRS is often willing to set up payment plans with taxpayers, and those payment plans could make paying what you owe easier and less stressful. Once again, it is a good idea to seek professional help and guidance here – the IRS can drive a hard bargain, and you do not want to end up with a payment plan you cannot afford.

If you fall behind on the payment plan you agreed to, you could be subject to additional enforcement action, including the tax agency garnering your paycheck or even freezing your bank accounts. Getting the help of a tax resolution professional up front can help you avoid these serious consequences.

Explore an Offer in Compromise Settlement

If you are truly unable to pay the money the IRS claims you owe, you may be able to work out a smaller payment. The IRS may not advertise this program, but the tax agency is often willing to work with taxpayers by accepting lesser amounts, especially if those taxpayers have few assets and a limited income. Sometimes these can be for a fraction of what’s owed, if you qualify.  We offer a free no obligation consultation to find out if you qualify  Contact Me – Ron Friedman CPA CTRS

If you plan to explore this last option, it is critical that you work with a tax resolution expert. These compromise offers can be extremely complicated, with legalese and language that can be difficult to understand. You do not want to make a misstep here, and you want to ensure that paying the compromise account will result in a complete settlement of your tax bill.

Few things are as frightening as getting a letter from the IRS. That official-looking letterhead is bad enough, but what the letter says is even worse. If you receive such a letter, you need to take positive steps right away. Ignoring the situation will not make it go away, and the sooner you start exploring your tax resolution options the better off you will be.

If you want the help of an expert tax resolution professional who knows how to navigate the IRS maze, reach out to our firm and we’ll schedule a no-obligation confidential consultation to explain your options to permanently resolve your tax problem. Contact Me – Ron Friedman CPA CTRS.

Till next time,

Ron

Founder and President of Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro
taxreliefprowestchester.com
ron@taxreliefprowestchester.com
Stop IRS Hotline: 1-800-TAX-FIX0 (829-3490)

As the best tax resolution and relief company in Westchester County, NY, and the tri-state area, Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro has specialists to stop the IRS and help troubled tax payers get out of IRS debt. If you have back taxes owed, unfiled tax returns, IRS levies, liens, seizures or wage garnishments, we at Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro can help you settle for a fraction of what you owe. As trusted, credible tax resolution specialists, we are vested in our client’s well-being and financial security.

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July 13, 2019Categories: Tax Resolution StrategiesTags: irs debt, tax help, tax resolution

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Ron Friedman Tax Relief Pro

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Recent Posts

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