The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will start using private debt collectors to call taxpayers who are delinquent in paying taxes.
The agency says it is the result of a law passed in 2015 that requires the IRS to hire debt collectors to track people down.
But with the widespread IRS scam flaring back up, how can you tell the real collectors from the fake?
The IRS says before you ever get a call, you will receive letters from them letting you know that your account is going to collections.
The letter will say which company will work with you and how to get in touch with them.
It will also include your tax identification number. If a collection agency calls you that is the number they will use to identify you.
Only four companies are being used to collect these debts:
• CBE
P.O. Box 2217
Waterloo, IA 50704
1-800-910-5837
• ConServe
P.O. Box 307
Fairport, NY 14450-0307
1-844-853-4875
• Performant
P.O. Box 9045
Pleasanton CA 94566-9045
1-844-807-9367
• Pioneer
PO Box 500
Horseheads, NY 14845
1-800-448-3531
Also you DO NOT pay the collection agency. You pay the IRS directly. Do that by going toirs.gov/payments.
Finally, if you want to deal directly with the IRS, you can opt out of communicating with the collection agency by sending a certified letter to the company.
As always, the IRS will never harass, threaten you with jail or ask you to pay them in gift cards---that’s a con scammers love to use.
Before you do anything, call the IRS directly and verify whether or not the debt is real at 800-829-1040.
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