The tax year is here again, and people should expect fake IRS letters from scammers. Since Uncle Sam is sending out bills or notices to taxpayers, many scammers are exploring this opportunity to deceive taxpayers. There are differences between the actual letter from Uncle Sam and the fake letter from scammers. Here's what taxpayers should know about counterfeit IRS letters.
Be careful when someone calls claiming to be an IRS agent requesting immediate payment because Uncle Sam doesn’t do that over the phone. The office mails the bill to you, while most scammers use letters as bait. The letter may contain threatening words and claimed to be from the Bureau of Tax Enforcement. This agency does not exist and does not work with the IRS. The IRS symbol is placed on it to make it convincing.
Taxpayers have unknowingly fallen victim to this scam, while many have reported it to the IRS office. Some letters claim the taxpayer is subject to a warranty on unpaid taxes. The letter further threatened that failure to pay the tax could result in arrest or criminal charges. This implication makes it look legitimate, which can be a scary situation for taxpayers. The IRS is urging taxpayers to remain calm and report such activities.
What does an authentic IRS letter look like?
The IRS sends letters every tax period for many reasons. The letter arrives before other forms of communication like email. The IRS may use other means to contact you, which is rare. IRS letters are referred to as notices printed with the IRS logo. There is always a reason and what to do attached to each letter. The letter has the taxpayer’s rights, tax ID number or Social Security number, and date of the tax year.
The IRS may contact you for the following reasons.
If you or your business is in debt
You filled incorrect amount
The IRS altered your tax return figures
Your past tax reports are questionable
The IRS may delay in processing your tax
Your identity needs to be identified or other additional data.
The IRS sends a letter with a letter number (LTR) or a notice number (CP). The number can be seen above or below the footnote of the letter. You can also get the type of notice you have received on the IRS website to get the guidance, information, and next step about your taxes. The IRS may not send you a reply meaning you have to keep the letter until the official response to your complaint arrives. The recommendation for the IRS to visit your taxes is seven years or as the case may be.
Here are some tips on knowing the difference between a fake IRS letter and an actual IRS notice. Here is how.
The IRS office has no reason to arrest you for tax delays through communication.
Any letter from Uncle Sam always has the toll-free number 800. Fake ones usually come with a phone number, don’t call them. Instead, dial 1-800-829-1040 belonging to the IRS. All government websites belonging to the IRS or concerning taxes start with HTTPS and end with .gov.
The envelope sent from the IRS is sealed with the IRS stamp. The notice includes your tax ID number.
The payment method is issued and addressed to the United States Treasury. It's a scam when your bank details or gift cards are requested. The letter will include the next step to follow.
You can also alert the IRS if your friend or someone you know is being dubbed. Also, you can forward your observation to the Treasury Inspector General on Tax Administration (TIGTA) online through the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting website.
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