Is that really the IRS knocking on your door?

The IRS has made it clear for years that their first contact with you will not be a text or email.

But it turns out it might be a knock on your door.

Residents of Floyd County, Georgia, were shocked recently when they saw a man visiting homes claiming to be from the IRS. Several residents called the police — one even sent them a video of the man claiming to be an IRS employee.

It turns out he actually worked for the IRS.

Police officers stopped at his address in Smyrna, Georgia, and found a legitimate IRS office. There are several offices in that general area, including Taxpayer Assistance Centers. You can find yours here.

The IRS employee explained that he was visiting on legitimate IRS business and said other IRS employees could appear in the future. Local law enforcement in the area asked the IRS for a heads-up before making future home visits, but it’s not clear if they agreed.

When I asked the IRS about the visit, they advised, “This is not a new situation. For years, employees have been allowed to visit a taxpayer’s home or business under limited circumstances. These visits are carefully regulated and compliance officers are trained to respect taxpayers’ rights.”

Theirs previously confirmed online that circumstances may lead to a personal meeting or visit. That includes cases where a taxpayer has a delinquent tax bill, has an unfiled tax return, or has not filed an employment tax deposit. An IRS employee may also want to see your home office or visit your business as part of an audit or ongoing criminal investigation.

But with concerns about IRS impersonators and scams still a genuine concern, how can you protect yourself?

• Ask for identification. Tax officials have two forms of official identification: IRS-issued credentials and a HSPD-12 card. The HSPD-12 card is a government-wide standard form of identification for federal employees. Both forms of identification have serial numbers and photos of the employee – and you can ask to see both.
• Open your email. Typically, the IRS makes most contacts through regular mail. But even when the IRS calls or comes to a home or business, you generally receive several notices from the IRS in the mail. Most unannounced home or business visits are collection cases when the agency believes there is some degree of urgency (for example, the collection of unpaid payroll taxes). You should be aware of those outstanding obligations, even if you don’t expect a knock on the door.

And remember, even with a house call, the IRS won’t:

• Require you to use a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit card or gift card;
• Demanding that you pay taxes without the ability to question or appeal the amount owed;
• Send text messages or contact you via social media; or
• Threaten to use local police, immigration officers or other law enforcement to arrest you for not paying. The IRS also can’t revoke your driver’s license, business license, or immigration status — those are common tactics scammers use to scare victims.

If you believe you have fallen victim to an impersonator, please contact the Inspector General of the Tax and Customs Administration via the IRS reporting of scams or call 800-366-4484. You can report telephone scams to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant– just add “IRS Phone Scam” to the notes.

But if you think it’s a legitimate visit, don’t panic. You have rights as a taxpayer, including the right to be heard. That includes making objections and providing additional documentation for consideration by the IRS.

If you have an existing tax liability — or you just haven’t filed a return — don’t ignore those knocks and phone calls. Help is available at irs.govtaxpayer assistance centers or a tax advisor.