Scammers calling up unsuspecting taxpayers seeking to get them to pay for fictitious tax bills has been a growing problem as of late with multiple measures being taken to combat the problem. Now the IRS is shifting a long standing policy when it comes to notifying taxpayers that they are subject to in-person field examinations by an agent. Previously a telephone call would be made to the taxpayer arranging a meeting but notice will now be given solely through the mail although the service admits that this step is taken out of caution rather than any specific instance of abuse of the procedure by fraudsters. However, this change does put the notice procedure for in-person exams in sync with the way the IRS normally informs taxpayers of levies. audits, and other issues. But, in any case, this is one more step in the right direction when it comes to protecting innocent taxpayers from the dishonest.
See Michael Cohn, IRS Changes Policy on In-Person Field Exam Notifications, Accounting Today, May 9, 2016.
