Having a tax debt is never fun, but it becomes an even greater problem when you feel as though the IRS is harassing you. You do not have to deal with constant emails or phone calls, or even threats, no matter how much money you owe to the IRS. If you feel as though you are a victim of harassment, there are some important things you need to know.
The IRS’ Policy on Harassment
First, the IRS has a policy to never harass taxpayers about their tax debt. They will contact you about your tax bill via mail and provide you with time (usually 30 to 60 days) to pay, appeal, and/or negotiate a tax settlement. If you continue to disregard the notices and not pay or negotiate a settlement, the IRS will continue to contact you about your debt with official letters informing you of the collective action they plan to take. This typically begins with a lien and may advance to a levy or wage garnishment. With each letter, you have time to react before the action takes place. In very rare cases will you receive an unsolicited phone call or email from the IRS.
Be Wary of Scammers
If someone is constantly calling you or emailing you, or even sending you an inordinate amount of physical letters, about your federal tax debt, then it is most likely not the IRS. Unfortunately, there are scammers out there who prey on those already in a poor financial state. These fraudsters will pretend to be the IRS and try to get you to give up your bank account or credit card information to pay your tax debt right away. However, they take that money for their own fraudulent means.
When you receive this type of harassment, do not succumb. The IRS will never ask you to pay right away and will not threaten jail time or similar action if you do not pay. You can call the IRS directly to check on the status of your tax debt if you are afraid some collective action may be occurring. If you know the status of your tax debt, then disregard the scammers. Instead, report them to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Your Right to Work with a New Agent
In very rare instances, an IRS agent might be the one conducting the harassment, working outside the purview of their job at the agency. When this happens, you have rights and recourse actions. First, you should report their actions to their supervisor. You also have the right to request a different agent to handle your case. Even if the agent’s actions may not qualify as harassment, if you feel at all uncomfortable working with that particular agent for any reason, then you can request to change agents and work with someone else.
Let Tax Professionals Do It For You
You can also let a tax professional work on your behalf and handle all the communication with the IRS so that you do not have to do so. This is beneficial even if you have had a positive experience in your communication with the IRS. Anyone can benefit from working with the tax professionals at Fidelity Tax Relief. You will have an experienced, objective, and dispassionate person to work on your behalf with the IRS to negotiate a settlement that works best for your situation. Call us today at 877-372-2520 to discuss your tax debt and the different options you have for tax relief.
