Ask The EDD Attorney – The IRS “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” For 2015 Part 1
By Robert S. Schriebman
January 27, 2015
Introduction
I have the pleasure of being a block captain for Neighborhood Watch. Last night I received an email from my community Neighborhood Watch director telling me how she personally has been receiving calls from the “Legal Affairs Division of the Department of Justice/IRS.” The caller stated that the IRS had issued a legal affidavit against her regarding money owed and that if she or her lawyer did not return the call she would be referred to local authorities. The call sounded legitimate. The director warned, “Please do not fall for anything like this from slick crooks. They sound legitimate. But no legal government agency calls you on the phone.” My director requested that I warn everyone, including any seniors on my street, to never fall for any phone or internet scam that asks you for money. My director also cautioned to advise people not to call local law enforcement about these phone scams as it ties up their phone lines, and they can do nothing except warn you to ignore the calls.
The IRS Is Taking Action To Warn The Public Against Phone And Internet Scams
The IRS will be issuing several press releases in early 2015 relating to what it labels “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams” for the 2015 filing season. On January 26, the IRS issued Part 1 dealing with illegal phishing. Phishing is usually an unsolicited email or a phony website that looks legitimate. Its primary objective is to separate you from valuable personal and financial information. The crooks objective is to commit identity or financial theft.
While some taxing agencies of the State of California now use email on a regular basis, the IRS has backed off of using email to communicate with either taxpayers or their representatives.
If you get an email purporting to be from the IRS or the Department of Justice the chances are it is a phony. Do not respond to it in any way. Report the email to the IRS by forwarding it to [email protected].
The IRS generally does not use any type of electronic communication such as text messages or the social media. They do not use email. If you have any doubt about the validity of any internet communication from the IRS, call a local tax professional. If you do not know a local tax practitioner contact your local Bar Association or CPA Society for a possible referral.
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An EDD attorney, Robert Schriebman has a successful practice in the Rolling Hills Estates area of Los Angeles County serving clients throughout California and the United States.
As a trusted EDD lawyer, Robert S. Schriebman 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.
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