3 Tips Any IRS Tax Lawyer Will Tell You About Identifying IRS Phone Fraud
In the last year, IRS phone scams have run rampant. Any Denver tax attorney could offer sound advise on how to avoid these, but it’s essential to be on the look out on your own. Phone scams can cause people thousands of dollars if they believe they’re in tax trouble. As a consumer and taxpayer, it’s important to know what to look for in a phone call. These phone calls can be different from legitimate calls, and understanding how to identify them is essential. Watch out for these tell tale signs of fraud:
Demanding Immediate Payment
If you get a call from the IRS and they demand immediate payment, this may be a sign of phone fraud. The real IRS will often work with taxpayers if they’re past due, and are generally willing to set up an appropriate payment plan. If you get a call that asks for the entirety of the dues, generally a large sum of money, it’s time to start asking more questions and be sure it’s legitimate.
Require You to Pay in a Specific Way
The IRS can accept payments in a variety of ways, but a call that is fraudulent may ask for only one specific way. If the caller is demanding payment in one specific way it is a red flag. Asking you to wire money, or demanding your credit card information over the phone is never okay. It’s important you ask a lot of questions about payment methods, and never offer information if you are unsure where that information is going. Ask to speak with multiple people if a certain payment method is demanded, and never offer personal financial information over the phone.
Demanding Payment Without Chance for Appeal
In most tax dues cases, you may appeal the decision. If the caller is demanding payment and explaining that there is no chance for an appeal, that is a sure sign something suspicious may be going on. The appeal process requires paperwork and documentation that cannot be obtained if it is fraud. Know that an appeal process is always available, and take note if this is not offered during the call.
IRS scam calls are on the rise, so being an educated and informed citizen is the best way to avoid this. If necessary, explain that you have your own Denver tax lawyer and instruct the caller to contact them. When you direct the caller to an IRS tax lawyer, it will assure a scam caller that you understand the process and often this may avoid any further harassment. A legitimate IRS agent would be capable of dealing with lawyers, whereas scam callers will not. Being well informed is essential to protecting your finances.
(Source: IRS Identifies Five Easy Ways to Spot Suspicious Calls August 2014)
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