Ask The EDD Attorney – The California BOE Wants To Warn You About Tax Related Phone Scams
By Robert S. Schriebman
April 29, 2015
Introduction
Over the last several months I have issued articles warning my readers of phony IRS agents demanding money and making threats. Unfortunately this problem seems to be getting worse. I get calls from clients, personal friends and even close relatives calling me in panic because they expect to be arrested within 24 hours because they supposedly did not pay their taxes. These callers pretend to be IRS agents. They are getting very good at their trade. Now they have office background noise and phony call back numbers to Washington D.C. area codes.
Now this has taken on an entirely new dimension. Callers are now pretending to be local police officers calling on behalf the California Board of Equalization (BOE).
How Does The Real BOE Operate?
Police officers have enough to do without getting into the tax collection business. Every California taxing agency, whether it’s the BOE, EDD or FTB has two separate divisions for conducting business – the audit people and the collection people. Police are rarely used. CHP officers may be called on rare occasions to conduct armed raids of suspected tax cheats. This is a very rare event.
The BOE is involved with sales and use taxes. They are not involved with personal income taxes or corporate franchise taxes. The BOE does not get involved with employment and withholding taxes; this is left to the EDD.
Collection of taxes always starts with a written notice on the official letterhead of the BOE, EDD or FTB. If people do not respond to the many letters sent to them the case will be assigned to an official collector who works for one of these agencies. The collector will identify himself or herself and will leave a message with an official callback number and a reference number for your matter.
The police are never involved in routine collection of taxes from either the BOE, EDD or FTB.
What To Do If You Get A Phony Call
Members of the BOE have issued public statements instructing the public what to do if you receive a phony “cop call.” According to BOE member Diane L. Harkey, “If anyone receives a call or is unsure of a possible scam, my staff and I are here to provide immediate assistance. Once the money is gone it becomes harder to track down these criminals who often operate outside the United States.”
The BOE has a Customer Service. The number is 1-800-400-7115.
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Robert Schriebman has a successful practice in the Rolling Hills Estates area of Los Angeles County serving clients throughout California and the United States. He has successfully dedicated more than 40 years to helping individual taxpayers, business owners, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys navigate the complicated tax systems of the federal and state governments.
Robert Schriebman has written the only 2 books ever published dealing with how California Employment Development Department (EDD) operates. See “California Tax Collection Practice and Procedures” and “California Taxation Practice and Procedure”, both published by Commerce Clearing House.
Robert Schriebman has written over 20 books including the major manual used nationally by practitioners and the IRS, “IRS Tax Collection Procedures – A Manual for Practitioners” published by Commerce Clearing House.
Robert Schriebman has written over 20 books including the major manual used nationally by practitioners and the IRS, “IRS Tax Collection Procedures – A Manual for Practitioners” published by Commerce Clearing House in addition to the only 2 books ever published dealing with how California Employment Development Department (EDD) operates. See “California Tax Collection Practice and Procedures” and “California Taxation Practice and Procedure”, both published by Commerce Clearing House.