What Should I Do if a Revenue Officer Shows Up at My Door?

On: July 15, 2023

Avoiding the IRS is never a good idea because they will not simply stop their collection efforts because you do not respond to them. In fact, they will ramp them up and may end up sending a revenue officer out to your home or business.

If the IRS has assigned a revenue officer to you, it is important that you secure representation as quickly as possible. The IRS is not messing around and it is vital that you have a trained and experienced tax professional on your side.

Will a Revenue Officer Come to My Home or Business?

Yes. In fact, revenue officers will attempt to make the first contact with you in person. Your assigned revenue officer’s job is to get in touch with you. It is important that you do not ignore the revenue officer, as this will only be more problematic for you.

If you happen to not be home when they stop by, they will leave a business card with their contact information. Contacting an experienced tax team is the best option at this point.

Throughout the process, your revenue officer may stop by periodically to check in on you, so never let your guard down and always be prepared for a visit.

What Do I Do When a Revenue Officer Shows Up?

You have several different options when a revenue officer shows up at your home or business. The way you handle the revenue officer will determine how your case continues to play out.

You Have Rights 

Don’t forget that you have rights! You do not have to let the revenue officer into your home or business. In fact, they do not have a legal right to come into your home. While denying them entry may seem like you are doing something wrong, it is in your best interest to let them know it is not a good time. The reason for this is that you need to prepare for them. They will be asking a lot of questions, and, usually questions you are not ready for at that moment.

Hire a Tax Professional 

Always inform the revenue officer that you plan to hire a tax professional to assist you through the process. Once you have retained representation, you can rest easy, and you will no longer be the one at the forefront who is handling the revenue officer.

Get Their Credentials 

Unfortunately, scams happen and you do not want to fall victim to one. You have the right to ask the revenue officer for identification to prove that they are with the IRS. Do not be shy about this. Remember, you are protecting yourself.

What Type of Power Does the Revenue Officer Have?

Revenue officers hold a lot of power when it comes to collecting owed taxes. In fact, they can do all of the following:

• Levy your bank account
• Wage garnishment
• Obtain a search warrant
• Subpoena financial documents
• Levy your accounts receivables
• Check your credit
• File a lawsuit to seize your assets

A revenue officer cannot arrest you and should never threaten to arrest you either.

Did a Revenue Officer Contact You? Call Leading Tax Group Now

If you have been contacted by a revenue officer, now is the time to talk to a tax professional. You do not want to try to deal with them on your own, as they do not have your best interests in mind. Remember, their job, and only job, is to collect the money you owe the IRS.

At Leading Tax Group, we fight for our clients and have successfully fought back against IRS revenue officers. We don’t want you to feel like you are alone in this process. Our team will assist you in making the best decisions based on your situation. We will work directly with the revenue officer, so that you don’t have to.

If you have a revenue officer hot on your tail, call Leading Tax Group today to discuss your options.