Latest IRS Tax Scam – CP2000

The fraudsters are at it again, and the schemes have become more realistic. The IRS is reporting that they have received complaints from around the country that false CP2000 notices are being emailed to taxpayers for the 2015 tax year. A CP2000 is a form issued by the IRS when a taxpayer has made an underpayment on taxes owed. Generally, the IRS sends out this notice when the information reported on a tax return doesn’t match information provided to the IRS. Unfortunately, the scammers have been able to make the forms and information appear realistic, tricking unsuspecting taxpayers. To help clients and others become aware of the scheme, Wilson Lewis has provided a brief summary below.

CP2000 Scam Details

Below is a summary regarding the latest scam:

• The notice and corresponding request for payment will arrive via email and not through the standard postal service.
• The CP2000 notice appears to be issued from an office in Austin, TX.
• The underreported income is related to Affordable Care Act (ACA) information on 2014 healthcare insurance coverage.
• The payment voucher lists the letter number as 105C.
• Payment is requested to be sent to the Austin Processing Center of the IRS at a Post Office Box address. There is also a payment link included with the email itself.

Rules of IRS Communication

Most taxpayers don’t communicate often with the IRS, so it’s not surprising to learn most don’t know the rules regarding IRS communication, which include:\

• No Email Communication – The IRS does not request any personal information through email (social security number, credit card or bank account numbers). It’s not secure and would create a wellspring of risk. Note that any correspondence purportedly from the IRS via email that includes attachments should be unopened and reported immediately.
• Contact via Telephone – It’s a rare occasion when the IRS initiates contact via telephone. However, in certain cases, it does happen. For this reason, if a taxpayer is contacted via telephone, it’s important to record the employee’s name, badge number and call back number prior to discussing anything with the caller. It’s also important to note the IRS does not demand payment over the phone, or request a certain type of payment.

Contact Us

Receiving notices from the IRS can be an unpleasant experience for many taxpayers, especially when you have cause to question its validity. If you have received a CP2000 notice from the IRS and are concerned about its legitimacy, Wilson Lewis wants to help. For additional information on IRS tax scams or for additional assistance with tax planning, call us at 770-476-1004, or click here to contact us. We look forward to speaking with you soon.