Michael Raanan, EA
Santa Ana, CA
Male, 35
My tenure with the largest and most powerful collection agency in the world, the IRS, began fresh out of college and with much surprise. Following an extensive interview process and a cross-country flight to the West Coast, I found myself in Los Angeles with the unenviable task of getting delinquent taxpayers back into tax compliance. After approximately 8 years of service, I left, and now find myself (very literally) on the other side of the table helping taxpayers resolve their IRS disputes.
The IRS has procedures in place to assist it in collection of unpaid taxes from taxpayers who reside overseas. If you have an unpaid tax liability and the IRS has filed a Federal Tax Lien, the IRS may submit your taxpayer information to the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (“TECS”). TECS is a database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. If the IRS places a Customs Hold on a delinquent taxpayer's account, the IRS will be notified when that taxpayer enters the United States. Since a recent Treasury report concluded that the IRS must increase its efforts to collect from international taxpayers, it is now more important than ever to keep a line of communication open with the IRS either directly or through a qualified tax representative.
Related:
1) 11 Tips for Taxpayers Who Owe Money to the IRS
http://bit.ly/18hk5ce
2) Recent IRS Investigations
http://bit.ly/1d8ON7l
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In general, disputes with a Revenue Officer should first be raised with the Group Manager. The GM may help resolve the dispute or decide that the case needs to be reassigned to a different employee. Disputes that cannot be resolved with the Collection department may benefit from a timely filing of an appeal. In most cases, taxpayers should consider seeking professional representation when their case is assigned to a Revenue Officer, as they are the last line of collection for the United States and have broad authority when it comes to enforcement actions that can be taken, including filing liens and issuing levies.
See: 10 Things to Know About the IRS Collection Process
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If you receive a call from someone saying they are from the IRS, trying to collect money over the phone and threatening you, it is a SCAM. Do not give them any personal information, including bank and credit card numbers. Collect as much information as you can from them and report it to the proper authorities (here's how).
Since last year, the Treasury Inspector General (TIGTA) and the IRS have received 366,000 complaints from taxpayers through its telephone hotline. TIGTA has identified approximately 3,300 victims who have lost an estimated $16.8 million from these IRS phone scams, or an average of over $5,000 per victim. The highest reported loss by one individual was a staggering $500,000. Learn more about the phone scam and how to protect yourself.
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The IRS Collection process encumbers all taxpayers that are out of "tax compliance". At any given time there are about 12 million taxpayers that are out of compliance and require some sort of contact by the IRS. Many of these taxpayers are initially contacted via correspondence at their last known address.
While it's the responsibility of the IRS to enforce the tax laws, the agency's resources are limited and therefore they must be circumspect when dealing with "tax evaders". Tax evasion cases require collaboration between IRS Collection personnel, IRS Counsel, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Counsel. The burden of proof lies on the government and cases must be well-developed before a decision to pursue a particular taxpayer is made. To see some recent IRS Criminal Investigation cases, click here.
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IRS Revenue Officers are authorized to make "field calls" and personal contact with taxpayers and third parties in connection with a Collection case. This includes making multiple visits to a taxpayer's personal residence or last known address, as warranted.
You may find this article helpful: 10 Things to Know About the IRS Collection Process
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IRS Agents have the authority to make "field calls" to a taxpayer's address in an effort to determine if the taxpayer can full pay the tax liability. If a note was left on your door, you may want to take advantage of the Free Consultations many tax relief professionals offer in order to discuss the particulars of your case and what options are available to you. Whether you choose to contact the IRS yourself or retain a tax representative, at least you will be better prepared.
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You can try contacting the IRS here.
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