IRS Communication Methods

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Devin M. Hludzik

Devin M. Hludzik

Attorney

469.998.8488
DHludzik@FreemanLaw.com

Ms. Hludzik represents clients in various stages of litigation, with a particular focus on federal tax controversies, as well as white-collar and financial disputes, both civil and criminal. She has experience on an array of issues, including IRS collections and federal investigations, and represents clients facing tax and white-collar or financial-related charges. Prior to joining private practice, Ms. Hludzik clerked for two judges at the United States Tax Court. 

Ms. Hludzik earned her B.S., cum laude, from the University of Central Florida. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Charleston School of Law. After law school, she received her LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Hludzik is licensed to practice in Texas and South Carolina.

With tax season approaching, this blog addresses the ways in which the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) will contact you… and the ways in which it will not.

PROBABLY

Generally, your first contact with the IRS will be through old-fashioned U.S. mail delivered to you by the U.S. Postal Service. You can verify that the IRS sent you the letter or notice through the IRS’s official website.

In limited cases, a letter may be received from one of three IRS-assigned private collection agencies: CBE Group Inc., Coast Professional, Inc., or ConServe. Before this happens, however, the IRS will issue you a Notice CP40 and Publication 4518 to let you know that your overdue tax account was assigned to one of the above-mentioned agencies. Your notifications from the IRS and collection agency will have a taxpayer authentication number to confirm your identity and the legitimacy of the correspondence.

MAYBE

There are a few other ways that the IRS may contact you, nearly all of which occur subsequent to the initial U.S.P.S. delivered document and your consenting to the communication method. As you progress your matter with the IRS, it may correspond with you via e-mail, text message, telephone, and/or facsimile. Also, the IRS may visit you in person. A face-to-face visit, however, is rare and usually scheduled.

Four types of IRS employees may unexpectedly visit your home or business: revenue agents, revenue officers, special agents, and fuel inspectors. All four have official identification; however, the official identification carried by each type varies. Should you be visited by an IRS employee, you can verify their identification by calling the number provided on their identification. Call 911 if you feel unsafe or the IRS employee does not present their identification upon request.

DEFINITELY NOT

The IRS will not send you a Snapchat to let you know that it made a calculation error and owes you a seven-figure refund, nor will the IRS slide into your Facebook DMs to warn you that you are in big trouble and the only way to prevent such problem is to respond with your social security number and mail a large sum of gift cards to an unknown address.

In sum, the IRS will never reach out to you or request a payment via social media. Also, the IRS will not threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials, revoke your driver’s or business license, leave a pre-recorded voicemail, or send you an advertisement to resolve a tax debt.

Freeman Law Attorneys

If you have any questions regarding IRS communication, Freeman Law can help. We offer value-driven legal services and provide practical solutions to complex tax issues. Click here to schedule a consultation, or call our office at (214) 984-3000.