Receiving a notice from the IRS informing you of an upcoming tax audit may seem unusual. What’s more, you may feel that the information they provide is rather vague.
Scammers have a lot of methods they use for impersonating legitimate entities to trick you into giving them personal information or monetary donations. Knowing how to tell when communication from the IRS is real can help you feel confident about your decision to respond.
Corporate identification
By law, you have the right to deny anyone entry to your home, especially if you have no idea who is at your front door and what they need. You can always request identification and press for proof before you make a decision to comply. According to the IRS, all officers have a requirement to obtain and possess two forms of corporate identification. These include a pocket commission and an HSPD-12 card.
On the identification you view, you should see a clear picture of the individual, as well as other identifiers that clearly connect them to the IRS. They should also present formal documentation that accurately describes their purpose for coming to your home.
Professional communication
Any communication you receive from the IRS will follow professional and formal guidelines. If the IRS encounters a discrepancy regarding payment, they will issue a formal notice before taking evasive action. If you ever experience threats, coercion, misrepresentation or harassment, you should think twice about conducting anymore business with the person asking you for a response. Formal documents from the IRS will clearly disclose the reason for contacting you, as well as which steps you need to take to resolve discrepancies.
Requiring adequate identification and expecting formal communication can protect you from fraud. If you ever have doubts about someone’s legitimacy, you can contact the IRS to request additional identification.