{"id":1105,"date":"2015-12-15T15:11:40","date_gmt":"2015-12-15T20:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.musingsbymichael.com\/blog\/?p=1105"},"modified":"2015-12-15T15:11:40","modified_gmt":"2015-12-15T20:11:40","slug":"hello-this-is-the-irs-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.musingsbymichael.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/15\/hello-this-is-the-irs-calling\/","title":{"rendered":"Hello this is the IRS calling"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"IRS\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Hello, this is the IRS calling. Yes this is the real IRS (Internal Revenue Service) and they might be able to\u00a0 call you the taxpayer very soon if the Federal Budget passes as is. Then how will you tell if it is really the IRS or someone who is trying to scam you out of your money?<\/span><\/p>\n

As of right now they can not call you, but if a little known provision<\/a> in the Federal Budget Bill agreement would allow federal agencies or third-party companies to call to collect debt owed to, or backed by the federal government. Those debts can include back taxes, student and federal loans. So if this provision is not taken out of the Budget Bill, then the IRS could call you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Right about now you might be thinking the following thought- \u201cHow will I be able to tell if the call is legitimate or is it some kind of scam?\u201d Well Senator Menendez of New Jersey said that \u201cPeople must be protected from over-the-phone predators trying to steal your money. Not only does this budget provision open the flood gates to more nuisance phone calls interrupting dinner and family time, but it blurs the line between what is legit and what is a complete and utter fraud<\/em>.\u201d The senator went on to say that the provision \u201cerodes the work we\u2019ve done to better protect people from unwanted phone calls, like pushing for increased \u2018Do Not Call\u2019 protections. It leads to confusion and\u2014worst of all\u2014it unnecessarily increases the risk of falling victim to a scam<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Well since they (the IRS) can not call you until the Budget Bill passes and includes this provision in it you can safely assume that you are being scammed. But be aware of the fact that if it does pass you then can be called by the IRS. The passing of this provision will create a giant headache for everyone, including the IRS. It will become just about impossible to tell if the call is real or not!<\/span><\/p>\n

There are some things that the real IRS would never ask of you, for example you would never be asked for your social security number over the phone or told to pay with anything like some store brand money or iphone card.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leonia Police Chief Rowe said \u201cTo prevent taxpayers from falling victim to these scams, we have been providing them with warnings to minimize their chances of becoming a victim. One of the warnings we have issued is that the IRS will never call you on the phone and that all correspondences will be through the mail. This legislation will undoubtedly cause many more people to fall victim to the IRS phone scam as they will be unable to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys. This legislation sends a confusing message to taxpayers and should be repealed immediately<\/em>.\u201d Confusing is not the word, the word obscure would be more like it. It would become for many even easier for the con artists to get their money. People are already being naive enough to believe that the IRS can already call them about money they owe.<\/span><\/p>\n

In closing I must definitely state that the IRS as of this moment can not call you, they will send you a letter and you will then know that it is real because it was done via the US Mail.<\/span><\/p>\n

That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike<\/span><\/p>\n