IRS will always write. IRS never calls. Above all IRS will never threaten you, IRS will never make an offer to settle your case over phone. Whatever IRS does, it will be in writing, and you will get a chance to contest or appeal your case with facts.
IRS has enormous resources and it will find your correct current mailing address if it needs to reach you.
If someone's calls and threatens you over phone with an arrest or big fines or punishment, it is a scam. That is not how our American justice system works. Don't fall for scams. Scams support criminal, terrorist groups.
Received the message today and called back #202-506-9166. Same heavy Indian accent. When I asked for the case number he stated none assigned yet (which is unusual for IRS). When I asked if I can call him back he hung up. IRS website is reporting phone scams. Also as others have stated the IRS communicates via mail.
Got a voice mail message from this number at 9:56 a.m. on March 17. I'm in the Washington, D.C., area. Message was hard to understand. He used my full name, including my middle initial, in the message. This is the text, as best as I could make it out:
"This message is intended for Jane A. Doe. Jane, Listen to me very carefully. [garbled sentence -- something about the "reason you are receiving this message"?]. I need you or your original attorney of record to return the call. [garbled sentence -- something about "the shorthand"?]. My name is Brian Cruz, and I am calling you from investigation bureau department of the IRS and hotline [garbled -- something about Venice?]. 202-506-9166. I repeat, it's 202-506-9166. Don't try to disregard this message and do return the call as soon as possible before any illegal allegations take place. We have [garbled sounded like "to combine that there is a reference," but that doesn't make any sense] in your income tax. Goodbye and take care."