IRS increases visits to high-income taxpayers who haven’t filed tax returns

As a part of a larger effort to ensure compliance and fairness, the Internal Revenue Service announced it will step up efforts to visit high-income taxpayers who in prior years have failed to file one or more of their tax returns.

Following recent hiring of additional enforcement personnel, IRS revenue officers across the country will increase face-to-face visits with high-income taxpayers who haven’t filed tax returns in 2018 or previous years. These visits are primarily aimed at informing these taxpayers of their filing and paying obligations and bringing these taxpayers into compliance.

The visits focusing on high-income taxpayers will be taking place across the country.

For the current tax season, taxpayers should file their 2019 tax return by April 15 filing deadline regardless whether they can pay in full. Six month extensions are also available, ALTHOUGH that does not extend the April deadline for paying any taxes owed.

Taxpayers having any delinquent filing or payment obligations should consult a Tax Expert before waiting to be contacted by the IRS

High-income non-filers are those who generally receive income in excess of $100,000 during a tax year and did not file a tax return with the IRS.

Most IRS revenue officer visits to a taxpayer are unannounced, they will always provide two forms of official credentials, and both will include serial number and photo of the IRS employee.

The officer will explain the liability to the taxpayer, along with the consequences of failing to comply. The IRS employee will not make threats nor demand an unusual form of payment.

Visits by the revenue officers generally occur after numerous contacts by mail. Taxpayers should be aware they have a tax issue.