The Quick Guide to IRS Revenue Officers

If a Revenue Officer is assigned to your case to collect your past tax balances, you should not act alone. Revenue Officers are authorized with absolute collection power. Normally we tell clients that the IRS will not call them. The exception to this rule? IRS Revenue Officers.

We recommend hiring a representative who can speak and meet with the Revenue Officer on your behalf. Tax attorneys know how to deal with an IRS Revenue Officer. At Polston Tax, we have experience navigating communications with IRS Revenue Officers through our Revenue Officer representation services.

What Is an IRS Officer?

An IRS Revenue Officer is a caseworker who will be assigned to your case if you owe back taxes exceeding $100,000. Before you are contacted by a Revenue Officer, you should first receive information regarding your tax bill in the mail and a deadline by which you should pay, appeal or negotiate a settlement.

If you disregard these notices, the IRS will keep contacting you about your back taxes and inform you about the action they plan to take to collect the money you owe. Typically, this starts with a lien and progresses to a wage garnishment or levy. In rare cases, you may receive an email or call from the IRS.

A Revenue Officer is typically assigned as a last resort after the IRS has already attempted to collect your back taxes via notices, bank levies, tax liens and wage garnishments. Revenue Officers are specially trained to collect taxes owed, and with their absolute collections authority, these officers are permitted to act in ways that typical IRS personnel are not.

A Revenue Officer’s job performance is measured based on how much money they are able to collect to satisfy your tax liability and how quickly they close your case. The officer will thoroughly audit you or your business and look for any discrepancies between the taxes you owe and the taxes you have filed. A Revenue Officer can:

• Call you
• Send you notices
• Visit you at your home
• Issue summons to you
• Seize accounts receivable
• Visit you at your workplace
• Seize your valuable property
• Levy your wages and bank account
• Collect information about your relatives
• Contact your clients if you are a business owner

Revenue Officers are very familiar with the tax code and have the power to garnish wages. As such, when you are dealing with an officer, you may want to have a tax attorney from Polston Tax on your side.

What to Know About IRS Officers

You can think of a Revenue Officer as a private investigator for the IRS who gathers information about your whereabouts, activities and family to learn more about how you spend your money. Below are a few things you should know if you have been assigned a IRS Revenue Officer:

• If you have already hired representation and the IRS has record of it, the Revenue Officer will have to speak with your representation.
• If you have not hired someone, the Revenue Officer will attempt to make contact with you “in the field.” This will most likely be your home but can also be your place of business. The IRS Revenue Officer may also call you, but they often prefer face-to-face meetings.
• Even if you have a “no trespassing” sign on your door or place of business, a Revenue Officer still has authority to enter areas that are commonly understood to be accessible and open to the public like the area of a front door, porch or driveway. But if you ask them to leave, they should do so immediately.
• If an IRS Revenue Officer is unable to contact you, they may speak with neighbors or other third parties. In fact, their code encourages them to speak with others who are close to you.
• Once you are contacted by a Revenue Officer, be sure they give you Publication 1, “Your Rights as a Taxpayer.” This is something they are required to do.
• Revenue Officers carry a plastic ID card or a badge.

As soon as you are contacted or visited by a Revenue Officer, contact us at Polston Tax. We can represent you and help you navigate the situation.

Does the IRS Ever Call You?

When “the IRS” is calling, it’s usually a scammer on the other line. Rather than a phone call, the IRS is most likely to first make contact with you through the mail. In the mail, you will receive bills and notices. If you do receive a call, we recommend that you contact the IRS to first determine whether you actually owe money. Alternatively, you can check this information via your online account.

The IRS will never call you demanding immediate payment via a specific payment method, and the IRS does not accept payment via wire transfers, prepaid debit cards or gift cards. If you have received a call you believe could be a scam, it’s important to review what types of payments the IRS accepts and never give your debit card or credit card information over the phone.

While the IRS typically won’t call you, a Revenue Officer can. Tactics used by Revenue Officers tend to be more extreme than those implemented by other IRS employees, so it’s essential to understand your rights when you are facing this method of collections. An IRS Revenue Officer phone number should be valid, and you can contact IRS customer service at 800-829-1040 with your concerns.

Fortunately, you have the right to representation, and if you opt to be represented by Polston Tax, a Revenue Officer should contact us instead. When you partner with us, you will have a tax attorney who can handle your case and meet with the Revenue Officer alongside you. We will be at your side and ensure the officer respects your rights.

How to Negotiate With an IRS Revenue Officer

When you owe back taxes and neglect to respond to the IRS’s previous collection attempts, a Revenue Officer may threaten to garnish your wages or seize your assets unless you pay what you owe. If you are unable to pay your back taxes in full, you may be able to negotiate a payment plan.

A reasonable payment plan with the IRS involves affordable monthly payments, though the IRS may also want some money upfront. The more reasonable the resolution, the more likely the IRS will accept it. To be successful in your negotiations with the IRS, hire a tax attorney from Polston Tax. With our tax resolution services, we can provide you with the tax help you need.

What to Do if an IRS Officer Is Harassing You

According to IRS policy, the organization should not harass you about your tax liability. If you are being harassed by someone claiming to be an IRS Revenue Officer, first consider that this may be a scammer. These scammers claim to be from the IRS to take advantage of vulnerable taxpayers. Constant emails and calls or an excessive number of physical letters may indicate that this person is not actually from the IRS. The IRS will not ask that you pay immediately or threaten you with jailtime.

In rare cases, the harassment is coming from an actual IRS Revenue Officer. If you suspect that a Revenue Officer is threatening or harassing you, know that these are considered to be violations:

• Threats to use violence or cause physical harm
• Obscenities or profanities
• Repeated phone calls intended to harass, abuse or annoy
• Calls without disclosing that they are a Revenue Officer
• Threats to arrest you

Revenue Officers cannot take actions beyond the scope of their job and responsibilities. For example, they do not have the power to arrest you. When a Revenue Officer harasses you, you have the right to take recourse actions. Follow these steps:

• Gather evidence: First, gather evidence of the harassment and threats you are receiving. You want to have proof that the Revenue Officer is calling you several times a day, showing up at your home or threatening you with jailtime before you take your complaint to the IRS. This evidence can help prove your case and prevent the IRS from denying your allegations.
• Report the actions: Next, report the Revenue Officer’s actions to their supervisor. This begins the process of analyzing the officer’s actions within the organization to determine whether harassment is occurring.
• Request a different officer: If this person is making you uncomfortable, put in a request for a different Revenue Officer. Even if their actions are not considered to be harassment, you may still be able to work with someone else.
• Seek representation: Hire a tax attorney who can handle all of the communication with the Revenue Officer so you don’t have to worry about navigating this process on your own. At Polston Tax, we know how to deal with the IRS and can differentiate between scammers and real Revenue Officers. We can also guide you through the actions to take if you’re facing harassment or threats.

Regardless of your tax situation, you shouldn’t have to deal with harassment or threats regarding your tax liability. Turn to Polston Tax for help and guidance.

What Does a Revenue Agent Do?

Revenue Officers are sometimes confused with Revenue Agents. However, these IRS employees have different responsibilities and roles and work for different sectors within the IRS.

While Revenue Officers tend to cover the more challenging tax cases, Revenue Agents handle IRS tax audits. Revenue Officers usually do not have accounting training, but they have discretion on selling and seizing assets to cover lien discharges and tax liabilities. They are also able to reject or approve installment plans. On the other hand, Revenue Agents determine your tax liability with an audit called an examination.

Essentially, if you have been assigned a Revenue Agent, they will be auditing your account, whereas a Revenue Officer is collecting a past tax balance. If you are instead dealing with a Revenue Agent, you may want to reach out to us at Polston Tax to get tax audit representation.

How to Speak to an IRS Representative Alone

In the event that you have been contacted by a Revenue Officer and decide to manage it by yourself, we recommend you stay respectful, polite and courteous. Revenue Officers are interested in getting your tax case resolved and many will work with you. If you ever have questions regarding an action a Revenue Officer is taking, you can file a report with TAS, TIGTA or try to speak with their manager.

Follow these tips to navigate communications with a Revenue Officer:

• Make life easy for the Revenue Officer: Many Revenue Officers are juggling several cases at once, so do what you can to make your Revenue Officer’s life easier, like by meeting deadlines. When you keep interactions positive and provide the officer with the information they need, they may be more inclined to offer the tax resolution you’re looking for.
• Evaluate your expenses: IRS Revenue Officers consider expenses outside of those for basic living to be an unnecessary luxury, including dining out, vacations, investment properties, gym memberships and private school or college tuition. Your Revenue Officer may expect you to eliminate these expenses so you can pay your back taxes. For many taxpayers, this is why hiring a representative is so important.
• Get tough when necessary: If a Revenue Officer is pushing for payments that are too difficult for you, you may need to stand your ground and advocate for what is reasonable. If you have knowledge and experience regarding tax procedures and codes, you may be comfortable taking this stance on your own. However, for many taxpayers, doing so is well outside their comfort zone. This is where a tax attorney comes in.

If you meet with a Revenue Officer and then decide that you would prefer to have representation, they must suspend the interview and allow you to hire an authorized representative. You are also allowed to record an in-person interview with a Revenue Officer. If you decide you do not want to manage communications with a Revenue Officer on your own, reach out to us at Polston Tax for representation. We can handle the process for you and give you the guidance and assistance you need.

How Revenue Officer Representation Can Assist You

When you are dealing with a Revenue Officer, it’s essential to be well represented. A tax attorney from Polston Tax can help you establish an amicable, respectful relationship with the Revenue Officer and successfully navigate the situation. We help you with the following tasks to increase the odds of a positive outcome with a Revenue Officer:

• Make a positive first impression: When dealing with a Revenue Officer, you want to make a positive first impression. We can help you respond promptly to their requests and maintain amicable communications.
• Gather your materials: We will help you collect your materials as quickly as possible. It’s important that you have the information you need when the Revenue Officer communicates with us, and this ensures the entire process can move forward smoothly and quickly.
• Meet deadlines: When you have a tax attorney, you can compromise with the Revenue Officer to set reasonable deadlines that you can meet. We can also make sure your documents and payments are organized, timely and clearly labeled when you submit them.
• Take control: We know your rights, and if necessary, we can fight back against a Revenue Officer and develop a strategy to address your back taxes and come up with an accurate timeline. When you take control, you can avoid unreasonable deadlines the Revenue Officer may attempt to set.
• Follow up on your IRS case: Since Revenue Officers are notoriously busy, they can be difficult to get in touch with, so it’s crucial that you follow up on the progress of your case. At Polston Tax, we can help you follow up on your case, which demonstrates to the IRS that you are proactive and willing to work with your Revenue Officer to ensure the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. With our assistance, you can keep an open line of communication with the Revenue Officer.

For many taxpayers, hiring representation to deal with a Revenue Officer and reach the ideal tax resolution is essential. A tax attorney can help you resolve disputes and reach a tax resolution with the IRS.

Talk to an IRS Agent With Polston Tax by Your Side

Once a Revenue Officer contacts you, take action. If you attempt to ignore the situation, this could lead to the Revenue Officer using more aggressive tactics, such as speaking with your neighbors, talking to your business associates or showing up at your door. This is where the tax attorneys at Polston Tax come in.

At Polston Tax, we can review your tax situation, help you gather your paperwork and communicate with the Revenue Officer on your behalf to ensure you make only the payments you can afford. We can provide you with guidance throughout the process and help you create a plan of action. When you choose Polston Tax for representation, you can benefit from:

• Comprehensive services: We have experience in all corners of tax law, including audit representation and accounting, so we can help you with any of your tax needs.
• Valuable experience: We have a deep understanding of complex tax laws, and you get our valuable experience on your side.
• Team approach: With an entire team of tax professionals in your corner, you can benefit from a team approach and insights into your specific situation.
• Familiarity with the IRS: We work with the IRS every day, so we understand their inner workings and can navigate communications with this organization on your behalf.

If you need to hire representation to help handle an investigation by a Revenue Officer, call us today at 844-841-9857 or learn more about our Revenue Officer services to find out what we can do for you!