IRS Officers No Longer Permitted to Make Unannounced Visits

In July, the IRS announced a major policy change that will effectively end unannounced visits from agency revenue officers. The new policy went into effect immediately and except in a few specific circumstances, will bar IRS employees from showing up at taxpayer homes with no notice. Instead, these visits will be scheduled ahead of time via mailed letters, giving taxpayers the time to collect the documents they need and set up a date and time that works for them. Read on to learn more about the new IRS policy regarding unscheduled visits.

Unannounced Visits by IRS Employees 

For many decades (prior to the new policy change), IRS revenue officers could visit households and businesses unannounced when attempting to:

• Resolve a taxpayer’s account balances;
• Collect unpaid taxes; or
• Collect unfiled tax returns.

However, in recent years, the IRS has grown concerned about the growth in tax scams, many of which involve fake IRS employees showing up at taxpayer homes. This creates confusion not only for taxpayers, but also for law enforcement officers who are trying to address these kinds of fraudulent activities. In response to these concerns, the IRS has implemented a new policy, effective immediately. Under this policy, visits by IRS employees to resolve delinquent tax matters will now need to be scheduled in advance.

Taxpayers Will Receive Appointment Letters 

Rather than conducting unannounced visits to the homes and businesses of taxpayers, revenue officers will now make contact via an appointment letter, known as 725-B. The information in this letter will direct the taxpayer’s next steps, which will include scheduling a face-to-face follow-up meeting at a specific place and time. It is hoped that these measures will:

• Prevent taxpayers from being taken advantage of by scam artists;
• Give taxpayers extra time to obtain the documentation and information necessary to resolve their claim quickly; and
• Eliminate the burden of multiple future meetings.

It’s important to note, however, that there will still be some limited situations where the IRS will be permitted to make unannounced visits, including in cases that involve the service of a summons or subpoena or sensitive enforcement activities, such as the seizure of assets. These situations, however, are thought to number less than a few hundred every year, which is a very small fraction when compared to the many thousands of unannounced visits that used to occur under the previous policy.

Schedule a Free Case Review Today

 We know how stressful unresolved tax matters can be for taxpayers and their families. Fortunately, you don’t have to try to resolve these issues on your own, but can work with a legal team that can help you shoulder this burden. For help with your own tax-related issue, feel free to call CPA, former FBI Special Agent, and Florida and nationwide unfiled tax attorney Ronald Cutler, P.A. today. We are ready to go to work for you immediately, offering after hours consultations and weekend appointments. Call our office at 386-490-9949 or send us an online message to get started.

Sources: 

irs.gov/newsroom/irs-ends-unannounced-revenue-officer-visits-to-taxpayers-major-change-to-end-confusion-enhance-safety-as-part-of-larger-agency-transformation-efforts

irs.gov/newsroom/irs-ends-unannounced-revenue-officer-visits-to-taxpayers#