Mail From The IRS

We have mentioned many times when speaking about scams that the IRS will never contact you first through a phone call, email, text message, social media, etc. Its first move is essentially always to send you a letter through the mail. But what do you do once the letter arrives?

This is a question so important that the IRS recently put out a release on what a taxpayer should do if they get mail from the agency. There are a few things I would like to add to/comment on about this, though:

• Don’t be frightened. Most of us have received something from the IRS at some point, so I can sympathize with the feeling you get when you first see that envelope. Most of us immediately jump to worrying about it and wondering what terrible news lies inside. Most of the time, though, it’s not so bad.
• Read the letter. Even if what is inside the envelope turns out to be bad news, nothing is going to be improved by ignoring it. Open the envelope, look at what it says, be aware of what is facing you.
• Don’t go it alone. The IRS release of what to do when receiving a letter urges making a payment if the letters asks for it. Of course, there are times when you may understand what is being said and understand that you do owe that amount and it is due at the time indicated. If that is the case, of course this should be paid as it says. If you are unaware of the issues or have a problem with what it says, though, you will do best to contact a tax professional to determine what your next steps should be.
  
  

The biggest thing I want to emphasize is that there is power in knowing what your situation with the IRS is. You may be receiving good news, bad news, or simple information, but no matter what it is, you want to know what’s going on. And if what is going on is as bad as we all can worry it may be when seeing the agency wants to reach us, please remember that you don’t have to battle through this by yourself.

Warmly,

Josh Bousquet
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