After 32 years of IRS work — and more than $100 million in resolved tax debt — I've seen just about every version of the problem you're dealing with. I'm Darrin Mish, a tax attorney in Tampa. Here's what you should know.
There are still people who try to scam you out of your tax refunds by stealing your identity or other means. They always pretend to be from the IRS, so I’ve labeled them “the IRS”. Click here to read or watch more IRS Help resources. So here are 5 tell-tale signs of a tax scam by “the IRS”:
1. A call from “the IRS” demanding immediate payment without first billing you by mail
2. No opportunity from “the IRS” to ask questions or appeal your fine
3. Insistence on using only one method of payment to pay your taxes like prepaid debit card
4. A call from “the IRS” asking for your credit or debit card number
5. Threats by “the IRS” of law enforcement actions
Here’s more about how not to be scammed and what you should do about it when someone tries to scam you.