Tax season is officially here and that means tax PHONE SCAM season is also here. I get a lot of calls from telemarketers, but I typically just ignore them and block the phone number. That's what I did yesterday when I received a phone call from Las Vegas, New Mexico. The call came in while I was at work, I took one look at the number, and I said, "NOPE. Not answering that." About a minute later, I was informed that I had a voicemail. Here's what it said:

My initial thought was, "uhhhh... what?" I've paid my taxes every year since I started working at age 17! How could I be in trouble with the IRS?! Then it hit me: I'm NOT in trouble with the IRS, this is one of those scams I'm always hearing about. These fake IRS calls have been happening for years, but this is the first time it has ever happened to me. According to a 2016 article from the official IRS website, the IRS will NEVER:

  • Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
     
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
     
  • Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
     
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
     
  • Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

If you get one of these calls, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission HERE. You can also call the IRS if you're concerned about owing taxes at 800-829-1040.

Read more about fake IRS phone calls HERE.

[Via IRS]

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