April 15th is over! For some of our clients, that means a big sigh of relief – and for others, it means a whole new set of questions and anxieties. For the next few weeks we're going to be running a "Slice of Life" series, where we address real-life questions clients bring us after they've filed their taxes (or not).

SLICE OF LIFE #1: A client calls us and says, "A person from the IRS is on the phone, and they're threatening to arrest me!"

Has this ever happened to you?

If you've received a call like this, don't panic. It's probably a scam. Sadly, there's a widespread ring of clever scam artists who call consumers and pretend to be the IRS in order to get your credit card information. These crooks may know a lot about you (more on that in a minute), and they use forged caller ID and fake IRS identification badge numbers. The IRS wants you to be aware of this problem, and they've provided a handy list of ways to spot suspicious calls.

Six Ways To Spot A Scam

1. The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment, or call without sending you a written notification first. If you haven't received a bill in the mail, you should not be receiving a phone call, either.
2. The IRS will never demand payment without giving you an opportunity to appeal the amount. (There's a lot of paperwork involved with the appeals process – our tax law firm can help you with that.)
3. The IRS will never tell you you are required to use a specific type of payment (prepaid credit card, etc.)
4. The IRS will never threaten you with arrest or physical harm, or tell you they're going to call the police or law enforcement if you don't pay.
5. The IRS will never contact you via unsolicited email, text, or social media about your tax problem.
6. The IRS will never ask you for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone. NEVER!

What to Do About A Scam

If you've received a scam call, and you know you don't owe back taxes, report the call to the IRS. You can call the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484, or visit www.tigta.gov.
 You can also file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant.

However, if you've received a scam call, it's possible that you DO owe back taxes, and that's why you received the call. You may have had a lien filed on your property, which is where scammers sometimes get their information. (In a way, they're a bit like sharks who start circling in the water when they sense blood.) If there's a chance that this is the case, run, do not walk, to your nearest tax law firm! (We hope that's us.) We can help you get a lien lifted, set up a payment plan, or get your debt moved to Currently Not Collectible status. Hopefully, that means no more calls from scammers, and a better night's rest for you.

If you've received scam calls, if you have a lien on your property, or if you just have questions, give us a call at 844-841-9857, or schedule a free consultation here.