How the IRS Contacts You—And How Scammers Pretend To

Imagine this: You’re wrapping up a hectic week managing payroll, onboarding a new client, and handling inventory when your phone rings. It’s someone claiming to be from the IRS. They sound official. They use your legal business name. They say you owe thousands in back taxes—and unless you pay immediately via wire transfer or gift cards, you’ll face legal action.

You panic. You start second-guessing your records. You scramble to call your bookkeeper.

Stop. This is where a real advisor steps in.

At Business Advisory and Accounting Partners, we’re not just here to look backward at what happened last quarter. We’re here to build your business future, and that includes protecting you from fraud. Because “Any CPA firm can record history. Our firm will help you build a future.”

The Real IRS: How They Actually Contact You

The IRS has clearly defined procedures for communication. Understanding these can help you identify fraud instantly:

• Initial Contact: The IRS always initiates contact by mail, not phone or text.
• Identification: IRS letters include your Social Security or Employer ID number and an official notice or form number.
• Payment Methods: They never ask for payments via gift cards, Venmo, or crypto. Payments are directed through IRS.gov.
• Verification: You can always call the IRS directly at published numbers or access your account online at irs.gov to validate.

Any deviation from this process is a red flag.

How Scammers Imitate the IRS

IRS impersonation scams are now sophisticated and aggressive. These scammers:

• Use spoofed phone numbers and emails that appear legitimate.
• Reference your real business or EIN from public records.
• Create a sense of panic and urgency—"You must act now or go to jail."

This is where most small business owners freeze. You weren’t trained for fraud detection. That’s not your job—but it is ours.

The Business Advisory Difference: Strategy in Action

Let’s take a real-world case from a small construction company we advise:

Situation:
The owner received a call claiming a tax audit was triggered from unpaid payroll liabilities, with a 24-hour deadline to resolve or risk asset seizure.

Advisor Action:
Instead of reacting, we followed our protocol:

• Immediate Verification: We checked the IRS e-services account tied to the business. No notices. No balances due.
• Review Historical Tax Position: We cross-referenced prior quarterly 941 filings and W-2 submissions. All matched.
• Communication Audit: We flagged the call and initiated an incident report, updating their business SOPs.

Outcome:
No payment was made. No business disruption. Trust was preserved. And more importantly, a future-ready defense strategy was built.

Why This Matters for Business Growth

As a small business owner, every distraction—especially fraud—pulls you away from growth. Here’s how Future-Focused Business Planning changes that:

• Risk Planning: We embed fraud defense into your tax and operational strategy.
• Cash Flow Clarity: You’ll know where you stand financially, so no “surprise” tax notices throw you off.
• Business Investment Confidence: When you’re protected, you can grow—hiring, expanding, or innovating without fear.

This is what sets a Trusted Business Advisor apart from a tax preparer.

Accountant vs. Advisor: Who’s Guiding Your Business?

When you only work with an accountant, you’re constantly reacting. With us, you’re building.

Want This Tailored to Your Business?

Your business deserves more than generic advice and tax returns. Let’s build your future together—securely and strategically.

Book a call now to protect your business and plan for sustainable growth.

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