If you fail respond to letters and notices from the IRS, a Revenue Officer may be assigned to your case for the purpose of locating you and collecting the tax. IRS Agents may come to your home or place of business. By Law IRS Agents may also contact third parties including friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers, employers, employees, business associates and colleagues. Basically , they can contact anyone who they believe can assist them in locating you and collecting the tax debt.
An IRS badge sits on a table.
It is important to know what type of IRS Agent is contacting you:
- Revenue Officers- Indentify themselves using a blue and white plastic ID badge with a photograph. They are not authorized to carry firearms. Their job is to locate taxpayers and attempt to collect back taxes. Revenue Officers have a great deal of discretion and power in dealing with taxpayers. Revenue Officers have the authority to file tax liens, serve levies and seize property. For these reasons, they are some of the most feared IRS employees.
- Revenue Agents- Indentify themselves using a blue and white plastic ID badge with a photograph. They are not authorized to carry firearms. Their job is to audit and assess taxes. Revenue Agents usually visit businesses. Revenue Agents may also accompany Revenue Officers and Special Agents during raids and asset seizures.
- Special Agents- Are the police force of the IRS. Special Agents carry badges and are authorized to carry firearms. Special Agents conduct investigations execute raids, search and arrest warrants. They may work in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA Postal Inspectors etc. Special Agents can serve as armed escorts and accompany Revenue Officers and Revenue Agents during asset seizures or other difficult circumstances or if there is a concern for their safety. A visit from a Special Agent is a very serious matter and means the IRS may be investigating you for a crime or as part of a Federal Investigation.
IRS Agents may not enter your home, place business or any “non-public” area of your property without a search warrant, court order or your permission. If you are visited by an IRS Agent, do not give them permission to enter home or place of business unless they have a warrant or court order.
We do not recommend speaking to the IRS Agents without representation. If IRS Agents are coming to your home or place of business, it is important to obtain professional representation as soon as possible. Be cordial and polite and explain to the Agent that you are in the process of seeking representation (only if it’s true) and call our office immediately at 800-987-4165.
Within one business day of retaining our Firm, we will contact the Agent In Charge of your case. We are highly skilled at working with IRS Agents and resolving these matters for our clients. Our Tax Department is spearheaded by a former IRS Agent. He knows the ins and outs of the IRS and will work with the IRS to negotiate a final resolution with the IRS and get them off your back once and for all.
