Chilling Facts About Revenue Officers
Revenue officers are highly skilled employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who are responsible for collecting back taxes and resolving tax debt cases. Depending on the department they work for within the IRS, their duties may vary. Revenue officers receive more intense training than regular IRS employees which gives them the ability to enforce the tax code and collect taxes from delinquent accounts as quickly as possible.
Absolute Collection Power
The IRS grants revenue officers substantial power to collect on unpaid tax debts. They have the ability to place levies (wage garnishment, order the banks of debtors to transfer funds to them), send IRS notices, call taxpayers to meetings with IRS officers, place liens on property and/or assets, and use other collection actions against a debtor. They may inspect accounts and documents, and also ask taxpayers to provide their financial information.
Revenue officers have a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the tax code. That tax law knowledge provides them with an advantage over taxpayers to enforce actions to their fullest.
What You Can Do
A revenue officer will usually confirm whether or not a taxpayer is fully compliant with the tax laws. This investigation includes filing of all tax returns and correctly paying any tax liabilities. As such, you will want to ensure that all past tax returns are filed, paycheck stubs and bank statements organized, and receipts for your claimed deductions are readily accessible. The revenue officer will ask for tax and financial documents, including bank account statements and pay stubs.
Review your past tax filings to ensure the correct amount of taxes was paid. A revenue officer may perform an audit should they find discrepancies in the information they receive from third-party sources (employers, banks, etc.) to those reported on your return.
Seeking Help
A revenue officer is assigned to a tax debt case for collection of unpaid taxes. If you receive a notice from the IRS regarding collection of unpaid tax debt and you are not financially capable of paying, you can hire a tax attorney or an enrolled agent who specializes in tax debt resolution to represent you. Contact RMS Tax Consulting at (520) 448-3531 and speak with Enrolled Agent Richard Schickel for a free consultation. Having professional representation from an experienced tax professional can be a benefit when seeking the best resolution possible.