We just got this call today and they left a message asking us to call them back for a final notice that we have a law suit against us. I feel that this is a scam but how do we know for sure?
Total scam. Originates in either India or Pakistan. Block and ignore. DO NOT RETURN THE CALL!
See: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Reiterate ... -Telephone-Scam
See also: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/scammers-continuing-pose-irs-agents
I’m an Enrolled Agent with the IRS (Inactive). IRS does not initiate contacts by phone. US mail only. IRS does not file lawsuits. IRS has enough administrative authority under the IRS Code and related regulations to collect all taxes lawfully due the federal government. Court action, if any is handled by the DOJ and all parties are entitled to legal assistance if it is a criminal matter. But--tax disputes are for the most part civil matters. 90% of all IRS tax disputes are settled administratively. IRS has absolutely no authority to call on local law enforcement for anything. Local law is never involved in IRS tax disputes. IRS does not threaten to involve local law enforcement or to arrest you for nonpayment of federal taxes. IRS has no powers of arrest as related to ordinary tax disputes. Having a deficiency in taxes owed by way of audit is NOT a crime. IRS does not cold call anyone and demand immediate payment of money. IRS does not ask for financial information over the phone. IRS does not accept Green card money paks for payment in any case. No one is prosecuted for ordinary tax disputes. IRS has absolutely no authority over anyone's professional license. Professional licensing is handled by state governments. Yes, levies on property to satisfy an existing tax obligation do occur, but only after a very long period of negotiation. And yes, liens are placed on individuals but usually after a lot of negotiation and a failure to reach a settlement. All determinations of tax liability are subject to appeals. All contacts by the IRS are initiated by US mail.
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You can be certain it is a scam by going to the IRS website. There are notices there about the various fake IRS agent scams. The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by phone. In addition, they have no need to file a lawsuit to collect unpaid taxes. They have enough administrative authority to freeze assets and place liens without suing to do so.