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.