The IRS has announced, in Fact Sheet 2019-15, that it will begin visiting taxpayers who have ongoing tax compliance issues. The IRS will focus its efforts in areas where there have been a limited number of revenue officers available due to declining IRS resources.
According to the Fact Sheet, the IRS's primary goal for these visits is to make face-to-face contact with taxpayers who have a previously known tax issue that was not resolved through mail contact. The IRS emphasizes in the Fact Sheet that these visits will typically occur after numerous contacts by mail with the taxpayer about an existing tax issue.
Taxpayers should be aware they have a tax issue before they receive a visit from a revenue officer (revenue officers are trained IRS civil enforcement employees who work to resolve compliance issues, such as missing returns or unpaid taxes).
However, The First Face-To-Face Contact From A Revenue Officer Will Almost Always Be Unannounced!
During the visit, the revenue officer will interview the taxpayer to gather financial information and tell the taxpayer what he or she needs to do to become and remain compliant with the tax laws.
If a taxpayer has an outstanding federal tax debt, the revenue officer will take the appropriate actions to collect any taxes owed during the visit. The revenue officer will request payment, but will provide a range of payment options, including payment by check made out to the U.S. Treasury.
A legitimate revenue officer is there to help taxpayers understand and meet their tax obligations, not to make threats or demand some unusual form of payment for a nonexistent liability. The officer will explain the liability to the taxpayer.
IRS Visits Shouldn't Be Confused As A ScamSee our post How to Confirm the Identity of a Field Revenue Officer When They Come Knocking at Your Door, where we discuss that when an IRS revenue officer visits a taxpayer, they will always provide two forms of official credentials, both include a serial number and photo of the IRS employee. Taxpayers have the right to see each of these credentials.
A legitimate revenue officer is there to help taxpayers understand and meet their tax obligations, not to make threats or demand some unusual form of payment for a nonexistent liability. The officer will explain the liability to the taxpayer.
IRS Visits Shouldn't Be Confused As A ScamSee our post How to Confirm the Identity of a Field Revenue Officer When They Come Knocking at Your Door, where we discuss that when an IRS revenue officer visits a taxpayer, they will always provide two forms of official credentials, both include a serial number and photo of the IRS employee. Taxpayers have the right to see each of these credentials.
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