Post by MizIndependent on Oct 7, 2016 21:08:41 GMT
FYI: Clark Howard: "Warning: There's a new IRS scam coming to your mailbox"
More good info at link for those interested. 
According to a warning issued by the IRS, the fake notices typically ask the person who received the letter to pay a balance they owe in connection with Affordable Care Act health coverage for 2014. Taxpayers without proper health coverage have to pay a penalty, so of course scammers jumped on the opportunity as a way to sound legit to a vulnerable consumer.
According to the IRS, criminals across the country are sending fraudulent versions of CP2000 notices for tax year 2015, which are letters that inform taxpayers about discrepancies on their tax return.
What makes this scam different from other IRS scams is that the notices are being sent via email -- as well as through the mail.
Typically, the way to spot this type of scam is knowing that the IRS will never communicate this information via email -- but since the notices are coming through as actual paper mail, that no longer applies.
However, the IRS says there are ways for potential victims to spot and avoid fake notices demanding payment.
Here are a few warning signs that a notice "from the IRS" is fake:
Appears to be issued from an Austin, Texas, address.
Says the issue is related to the Affordable Care Act and requests information regarding 2014 coverage.
Lists the letter number in the payment voucher as 105C.
Requests checks made out to I.R.S. and sent to the “Austin Processing Center” at a post office box.
This IRS says the type of notice scammers are using is usually several pages long, so another thing to remember if you receive this type of letter in the mail.
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The IRS will never:
Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
According to the IRS, criminals across the country are sending fraudulent versions of CP2000 notices for tax year 2015, which are letters that inform taxpayers about discrepancies on their tax return.
What makes this scam different from other IRS scams is that the notices are being sent via email -- as well as through the mail.
Typically, the way to spot this type of scam is knowing that the IRS will never communicate this information via email -- but since the notices are coming through as actual paper mail, that no longer applies.
However, the IRS says there are ways for potential victims to spot and avoid fake notices demanding payment.
Here are a few warning signs that a notice "from the IRS" is fake:
Appears to be issued from an Austin, Texas, address.
Says the issue is related to the Affordable Care Act and requests information regarding 2014 coverage.
Lists the letter number in the payment voucher as 105C.
Requests checks made out to I.R.S. and sent to the “Austin Processing Center” at a post office box.
This IRS says the type of notice scammers are using is usually several pages long, so another thing to remember if you receive this type of letter in the mail.
----
The IRS will never:
Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer.
Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
