Recently (Dec. 2015) Congress gave the IRS the authority to use private debt collectors to collect taxes you may owe. Several safeguards have been put in place to help prevent fraud.
First, you will only receive a letter or phone call from the IRS and private collection agency if you owe taxes from a previous tax year. If you owe taxes from the current tax year you should not be receiving letters or phone calls.
Second, before a private collection agency makes contact, you should receive a letter from the IRS informing you that your prior tax debt has been assigned to a private debt collector. You will also receive Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency with your letter.
Third, your debt will only be assigned to one of the following four private collection agencies:
If you have more questions or are unsure if you are someone who may be receiving a letter from a collection agency, please speak with your tax professional or send me an email through the contact form.
First, you will only receive a letter or phone call from the IRS and private collection agency if you owe taxes from a previous tax year. If you owe taxes from the current tax year you should not be receiving letters or phone calls.
Second, before a private collection agency makes contact, you should receive a letter from the IRS informing you that your prior tax debt has been assigned to a private debt collector. You will also receive Publication 4518, What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency with your letter.
Third, your debt will only be assigned to one of the following four private collection agencies:
- CEB Group of Cedar Falls, IA
- Conserve of Fairport, NY
- Performant of Livermore, CA
- Pioneer of Horseheads, NY
If you have more questions or are unsure if you are someone who may be receiving a letter from a collection agency, please speak with your tax professional or send me an email through the contact form.