LAWRENCE COUNTY – This is a warning for those who may receive a letter concerning a “Final Demand for Payment” resulting in property seizure if left unpaid. After researching the letter, it is revealed as a scam.
The letter looks official but there are some red flags – such as not owing any taxes (to your knowledge), your company’s EIN is not listed, and it asks for payment upfront. Additionally, it is stated to be from the non-existent “Tax Processing Unit”, ”Internal Processing Service”, and “THE Federal Tax Authorities”, and not the IRS.
A quick Google search of the telephone number retrieves several articles listing these notices as tax scams.
Information drawn from the Willi Law Office website explains that “Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. They will never call to demand immediate payment or request a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card, or wire transfer. They never threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying. Even if you ignore IRS collection notices, they will not threaten to seize your property or garnish your bank accounts without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed. Taxpayers who wish to call the IRS regarding their taxes should contact them directly at their published number: 800-829-1040”
