How to Know if the Knock on Your Door is from the IRS
Here are eight thinks to know about in person contacts from the IRS.
- The IRS initiates most contacts through regular mail delivered by the United States Postal Service.
- There are special circumstances when IRS will come to a home or business. This includes:
- When a taxpayer has an overdue tax bill
- When the IRS needs to secure a delinquent tax return or a delinquent employment tax payment
- To tour a business as part of an audit
- As part of a criminal investigation
- IRS revenue officers carry 2 forms of official identification. Forms of ID have serial numbers.
- IRS can assign certain cases to private debt collectors. The IRS does this only after giving written notice to the taxpayer and any appointed Private collection agencies will never visit a taxpayer at their home or business.
- IRS will not ask that a taxpayer make a payment to anyone other than the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
- IRS employees conducting audit may call taxpayers to set up appointments, but not without first notified them by mail.
- IRS criminal investigators may visit a taxpayer’s home or business unannounced while conducting an investigation. However, these are federal law enforcement agents and they will not demand any sort of payment.