INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) advises all taxpayers to be on the lookout for a popular scam threatening legal action based on a phony tax bill.
Recently the scam has been circulating in Marion County in the form of a notice, with the threat of property seizure if the fake bill is not paid. This scam is not new and has shown up in many states in recent years including Georgia, Washington and Delaware, to name a few. Reports have come out of Marion County, but DOR warns all Hoosiers to be on alert regardless of their county of residence.
“The unfortunate reality is there are people out there with bad intentions who target individuals in or around tax filing season, in particular,” stated DOR Commissioner Adam Krupp. “We want to remind Hoosiers to pay close attention to the look and content of any correspondence of this nature.
“When in doubt, do not call the number on the notice, but instead call DOR directly.”
The scam appears to be an official letter asking customers to call a 1-800 number to resolve their tax issue. The scammers claim to help individuals by filing an offer-in-compromise through a law firm to settle the debt below the alleged amount owed. After a series of detailed, financial questions, they ask for immediate payment through credit card or e-check.
“The person on the other end of the line could sound very convincing to anyone not familiar with Indiana tax laws,” said Michelle Cain, DOR Director of External Communications. “However, these scammers never confirm the amount owed or even if your tax bill is state or federal, as the information is false. This is a big red flag.”
If an individual owes taxes to the state of Indiana, they will be notified directly by DOR. More information about the collection process can be found on DOR’s website dor.in.gov/3959.htm. Individuals may call DOR Customer Service at 317-232-2240, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST to verify any tax bill received.
If an individual receives any unexpected or suspicious correspondence appearing to be from DOR or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), please report it to:
Internal Revenue Service
Email:
phishing@irs.gov
Phone: 1-800-829-1040
Indiana Department of Revenue
Email:
investigations@dor.in.gov
Phone: 317-232-2240, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST
