Taxpayers Should be Aware of New Property Lien Scams

Taxpayers Should be Aware of New Property Lien Scams

Taxpayers are at risk to an increasing number of tax-related scams; fake property lien scams threatening taxpayers with a tax bill from a fictional government agency is just one of them.

Here are some tips on how to recognize the more recent property lien scams:

1. The scam mails taxpayers a letter threatening IRS lien or levy.
2. The lien or levy is based on bogus claims of overdue taxes owed to the fictional agency.
3. The agency might sound familiar or real. Double check online for the full and correct name.
4. The letter may reference the IRS to trick the taxpayer into thinking it’s from a real agency.

If you do not owe tax or have reason to believe you do not owe tax, follow these steps:

1. Report the letter to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Report the scam to the IRS impersonation Scam Reporting web page and use the key words “IRS Lien.”
2. Scan the document and email to phishing@irs.gov.
3. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission using the FTC Complaint Assistant.
4. Also report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, known simply as IC3.

If you do owe tax or think you might owe tax, follow these steps:

1. Go to IRS.gov and review your tax account information and payment options. This should reveal if you owe and how much. This is the fastest way to get this information.
2. Call the IRS to confirm the notice at 800-829-1040.