I hear from people every week who think their tax problem is the end of the world. It usually isn't. I'm Darrin Mish. I've resolved over $100 million in tax debt for clients. Here's what you should know.
A common telephone scam that has been used in previous years has once again resurfaced.
With several hundred thousand customers possibly affected thus far, this scam has successfully bilked billions of dollars from unwary recipients who believe that they owe money to the IRS.
The scam centers around automated telephone calls made to individuals that state that the IRS is calling them and that “a lawsuit is presently being filed against you.” In order to obtain information regarding the alleged lawsuit, the person is given a phone number to call.
When the call is returned, the parties responding inform the caller that money is owed to the IRS and they must pay immediately to avoid further consequences.
Many people are intimidated by the tone and word choice of these messages and so respond without question. However, the IRS has confirmed that this is indeed a scam, and that they are not making these calls.
The IRS states that it has been tracking these calls since 2013 and even has a specific website established for people to post complaints or warnings if they have been victimized. The IRS requests that people not comply with these calls and that they phone the IRS hotline directly with questions.
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