Is This Really the IRS? How to Separate Scam Calls From the Real Thing
Have you ever answered the phone and found someone claiming to be from the IRS on the other end of the line? Maybe they had a thick accent, told you they were sending the cops to your door, or demanded you pay your back taxes in $20 Target gift cards. Whatever they said, hopefully you realized the call was a scam — but, if you didn’t, you’re not alone. Between 2013 and 2015, more than 4,500 people fell for scam calls, paying a total of more than $23 million dollars to imposters. Since then, these calls have only increased in number. This May, the problem even reached the U.S. Senate, which passed a bill cracking down on robocalls. Going forward, here are a few things the IRS wants you to know in order to make you sure don’t end up accidentally sending your hard-earned money to criminals.
where the IRS does call or stop by a home or business in person, it will generally mail out several notices first as warnings.
2. THE IRS WILL ONLY ASK FOR ONE KIND OF PAYMENT
If an “IRS representative” asks you for gift cards or to mail them a prepaid debit card, that’s a big clue they’re not the real deal. The IRS will always request payments are made directly to the U.S. Treasury, never a private agency. A full list of authentic payment methods is available at IRS.gov/Payments.
3. THE IRS WILL NEVER THREATEN OR INTIMIDATE
Unlike scammers trying to scare you into paying up, real IRS agents will never threaten to arrest or deport you for unpaid taxes over the phone. If you get a call like this and fear you’re the victim of a scam, hang up and contact the IRS yourself through the contact methods listed on its website, IRS.gov.
1. THE IRS WILL ALMOST NEVER CALL YOU
It’s extremely rare for the IRS to make phone calls or house visits: almost all of its business is conducted by snail mail through the U.S. Postal Service. Even in cases
If you have a tax problem and are worried about hearing from the IRS, consult an experienced tax lawyer like Steven A. Leahy today.
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