Aggressive Collection of Unpaid Taxes Starts April 2017

Sometimes a debt can feel like an elephant is on our backs. One such debt is an outstanding tax debt, which is about to feel more burdensome due to the new program the IRS initiated to collect outstanding tax debts.

Starting this April 2017, the Internal Revenue Service will begin sending letters to taxpayers whose overdue federal tax accounts are being assigned to private-sector collection agencies. Those PCAs are:

1. CBE Group of Cedar Falls, Iowa;
2. Conserve of Fairport, N.Y.;
3. Performant of Livermore, Calif.; and
4. Pioneer of Horseheads, N.Y.

The program will begin this week with a few hundred taxpayers receiving mailings and subsequent phone calls, with the program growing to thousands a week later in the spring and summer. Taxpayers with overdue taxes will always receive multiple contacts, letters and phone calls, first from the IRS, not private debt collectors.
 
How the Program Works
The IRS will always notify a taxpayer before transferring their account to a private collection agency (PCA). First, the IRS will send a letter to the taxpayer and their tax representative informing them that their account is being assigned to a PCA and giving the name and contact information for the PCA. This mailing will include a copy of Publication 4518: What You Can Expect When the IRS Assigns Your Account to a Private Collection Agency.
Only four private groups are participating in this program:

1. CBE Group of Cedar Falls, Iowa;
2. Conserve of Fairport, N.Y.;
3. Performant of Livermore, Calif.; and
4. Pioneer of Horseheads, N.Y.

The taxpayer’s account will only be assigned to one of these agencies, never to all four. No other private group is authorized to represent the IRS.

Once the IRS letter is sent, the designated private firm will send its own letter to the taxpayer and their representative confirming the account transfer. To protect the taxpayer’s privacy and security, both the IRS letter and the collection firm’s letter will contain information that will help taxpayers identify the tax amount owed and assure taxpayers that future collection agency calls they may receive are legitimate.
The private firms are authorized to discuss payment options, including setting up payment agreements with taxpayers. But as with cases assigned to IRS employees, any tax payment must be made, either electronically or by check, to the IRS. A payment should never be sent to the private firm or anyone besides the IRS or the U.S. Treasury. Checks should only be made payable to the United States Treasury. Private firms are not authorized to take enforcement actions against taxpayers. Only IRS employees can take these actions, such as filing a notice of Federal Tax Lien or issuing a levy.
 
 Watch Out – Scammers Are Still Scamming!
The IRS reminds taxpayers to be on the lookout for scammers posing as private collection firms. The IRS will be watching for these schemes as the collection program begins, and this effort will include working with partners in the tax community and law enforcement about emerging scams.

People should remember that these private collection firms will only be calling about a tax debt the person has had – and has been aware of – for years and had been contacted about previously in the past by the IRS.

If you’re unsure if you have a tax debt outstanding, check it here: www.irs.gov/balancedue. Simply click the 'View Your Account' link and follow the instructions. If the account balance says zero, that means nothing is due and you typically wouldn’t be getting a contact from the IRS or the private firm.

Call for Help!
If you need a CPA or a tax/accounting professional to assist you with any tax debt, accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll management, or a just simply being your 'One-Stop-Shop' CPA, Tax Largie, Inc. is available to assist. Contact Us; We Can Help!