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Letter of Response

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do if you receive a letter from the IRS

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Examination to Collection
Whether you have just received a mail from the IRS or a notice from a State Tax Agency, do not panic. You are nowhere near litigation or even penalties just yet. However, it would be best if you did not ignore or throw them away, either. Instead, read the letter carefully and take the following steps:

Typically, the letter or notice contains a due date by which the taxpayer/recipient is required to file a return, make a payment or respond to the agency. Please carefully review the letter. Action should be taken before the due date to show good faith and avoid late fees or penalties.
Calling the agencies can be frustrating and time-consuming as many of these tax agencies are understaffed and overwhelmed. One needs to jump through many hoops in order to speak to a real person instead of a machine. Sometimes, the employees on the phone are not well-trained tax experts and may not solve the issue during the phone call. Unless you have a designated number in your mail and are specifically required to call that number, calling the tax agencies is not an efficient or effective way to handle the issue.
If you have documents, pictures, and letters supporting your claim, you should gather and organize them. You should also make it a habit to keep records of your receipts and bank transfers. You never know when you will need them.

Here is a list of tips to help you avoid scams!

  1. Be wary of unsolicited phone calls or emails claiming to be from the IRS. The IRS typically communicates with taxpayers through regular mail rather than by phone or email.
  2. Never give out personal or financial information over the phone or through email. For example, the IRS will never ask for personal information such as your social security number or bank account details over the phone or by email.
  3. Be suspicious of threats or demands for immediate payment. Scammers often use threats and intimidation to pressure victims into making quick payments. The IRS will only demand immediate payment after first allowing you to question or appeal the amount owed.
  4. Verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from the IRS. You can do this by asking for their name, badge number, and phone number to call them back. Then, you can contact the IRS directly to verify their identity.
  5. Protect your personal information. Please keep your personal and financial information secure and be careful with whom you share it.
  6. Report suspicious activity. If you suspect an IRS scam has targeted you or received a suspicious email or phone call, report it to the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can use a search engine like Google or Bing to find your local IRS or FTC number.

Suppose you are overwhelmed by the issue's complexity and would like to mitigate your penalties with professional assistance. In that case, you can contact an enrolled agent, a certified public accountant (CPA), or a tax attorney. Although all of them can represent you in front of the IRS, the benefits of speaking to a tax attorney include:

  • A tax attorney can continue representing you in the tax or civil court.
  • The attorney-client privilege will protect all your communication with a tax attorney.
  • A tax attorney can help you draft your argument and compile your evidence persuasively and from a legal perspective.
  • A tax attorney can help you draft your argument and compile your evidence persuasively and from a legal perspective.
If you just received a mail or notice from tax agencies and want professional assistance, we'd like to hear from you.

THEVOZ & Partners specializes in the area of Tax Law

This area of law is particularly complex and requires a high level of training. For this reason, our attorneys train continuously and hold a significant amount of experience in the field of tax law. THEVOZ & Partners is a law firm with offices in Austin and Lausanne specializing in the provision of tax and legal services to individuals and companies in the United States and Europe. We help clients navigate a litany of domestic and international tax issues ranging from compliance to planning and even litigation. We understand that each client has unique needs and goals, and we pride ourselves on taking a personalized approach to tailor our services to meet those needs.

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