IRS "calling" - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dkeel22274 · #1 01-03-2008, 07:25 PM

Has anyone had an IRS agent just drop by without notice.
I work in a hallway with other business. On the outside door there was a note stuffed in the door frame, from the local IRS office saying she had stopped by and no one was in.I am suppose to call her Monday. No papers, no notice, no anything.
Anyone heard of this before?

LaRondo · #2 01-03-2008, 07:31 PM

They can do what ever they want. Just like the FDA.

Never say 'no' or resist to IRS demands (unless you are up for immediate trouble). Always negotiate.

Whiskeydan · #3 01-03-2008, 09:04 PM

What note.

Hammertime · #4 01-03-2008, 10:30 PM

probably something to do with either payroll taxes or sales tax something or other..
I say this because it just happened to our neighbor...

Hatterasguy · #5 01-03-2008, 10:36 PM

QUICK CASH IN ALL YOUR STUFF AND JUMP ON THE FIRST FLIGHT THATS LEAVING THE COUNTRY!

Give me your MB's for safe storage!

dynalow · #6 01-04-2008, 08:46 AM

Questions. Questions. Questions.

Are your income tax returns all filed?
Do you own a business? What kind? Lots of Cash?
Do you have a bookeeper or a CPA?
Do you have employees? Do you have "independent contractors"?

Are your payroll taxes current? Have you filed all other tax returns you may be required to file?(Fed Excise taxes, etc)
Are you getting a divorce? Do you have any enemies?
Do you have any business associates or clients/customers being audited?

Call her today and see what she wants. Or call your accountant if you have one and ask him/her to call her. You may need to sign a POA for the IRS to talk to him/her.
If she wants to discuss items on tax returns that someone else had a hand in, use that as a staalling tactic if you need to. Avoid having a three way sit down as long as you can and thus give yourself some "I'll have to get back to you" room.

Btw, did she leave her card? What is her title? Revenue Agent or Special Agent

It goes without saying you should say as little as possible to her over the phone. Find out the why and go from there?

FWIW, I doubt it's about your personal or business Income tax returns being selected for audit. They usually notify taxpayers by mail to schedule appointments and let you know the years and areas of examination to give you time to get records together.

Of course, they can always show up with a subpoena to sieze any and all records they may need in an ongoing investigation.. of you or someone else.. They wouldn't call ahead for an appointment if that were the case.

Good luck.

TX76513 · #7 01-04-2008, 08:57 AM

Funny thread - a couple I know in Galveston told me the IRS showed up at their house. Why? The IRS was suspicious that they are full time Med. students, have their own business (no employees) and work part time for a cruise line. I guess the IRS does not believe in ambitious people.

SwampYankee · #8 01-04-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkeel22274

Has anyone had an IRS agent just drop by without notice.
I work in a hallway with other business. On the outside door there was a note stuffed in the door frame, from the local IRS office saying she had stopped by and no one was in.I am suppose to call her Monday. No papers, no notice, no anything.
Anyone heard of this before?

I was at a lawn care business conference ealier this year and they had an IRS person there to do a little presentation on record-keeping, deductions, common misconceptions, etc. and answer some general questions. One thing that struck a cord was that he said the IRS is making more of an effort to check on the "little guys" in the business world especially if they do a lot of cash transactions and have seasonal (read paid under the table and/or of questionable immigration status) employees.

In fact, now that I think of it, there was an article in Lawn & Landscape a couple months ago with an article about a lawncare operator who was paid a visit by the IRS, accounted all of his trials and tribulations and opened his eyes to what he should have been doing.

Good luck! Hopefully it's much ado about nothing, although I don't suspect it was just a friendly visit by the local agent.

dynalow · #9 01-04-2008, 09:47 AM

Internal Revenue Manual.
Part 4 deals with examination of returns.
Chapter 10 sec. 2 deals with pre-contact responsibilities of examiners.

Here's the link.
http://www.irs.gov/irm/part4/ch10s02.html
Note these sections were just revised in August of 2007.

dynalow · #10 01-04-2008, 09:56 AM

"He's Kramden. I'm clean!"

Ed Norton to IRS agent
from The Honeymooners

Mistress · #11 01-04-2008, 09:57 AM

Did I spell your name right?

Medmech · #12 01-04-2008, 10:05 AM

Who ever it is or whatever it is for don't give anyone jack $hit without independently verifying that they are truly an agent of the IRS.

Sounds fishy too me I've never heard of them just "showing up" when there is no known wrong doing.

dkeel22274 · #13 01-04-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

Questions. Questions. Questions.

Are your income tax returns all filed?
Do you own a business? What kind? Lots of Cash?
Do you have a bookeeper or a CPA?
Do you have employees? Do you have "independent contractors"?

Are your payroll taxes current? Have you filed all other tax returns you may be required to file?(Fed Excise taxes, etc)
Are you getting a divorce? Do you have any enemies?
Do you have any business associates or clients/customers being audited?

Call her today and see what she wants. Or call your accountant if you have one and ask him/her to call her. You may need to sign a POA for the IRS to talk to him/her.
If she wants to discuss items on tax returns that someone else had a hand in, use that as a staalling tactic if you need to. Avoid having a three way sit down as long as you can and thus give yourself some "I'll have to get back to you" room.

Btw, did she leave her card? What is her title? Revenue Agent or Special Agent

It goes without saying you should say as little as possible to her over the phone. Find out the why and go from there?

FWIW, I doubt it's about your personal or business Income tax returns being selected for audit. They usually notify taxpayers by mail to schedule appointments and let you know the years and areas of examination to give you time to get records together.

Of course, they can always show up with a subpoena to sieze any and all records they may need in an ongoing investigation.. of you or someone else.. They wouldn't call ahead for an appointment if that were the case.

Good luck.

Called accountant today. She said should not be any problems, because my wife is very meticulous about bookkeeping.
Maybe just checking to see if we are a valid business(20 years in business).
I am hoping its about the contract work we used this past 2 years.
She did leave a card with all the warning papers you get these days about your rights.

We'll see monday morning when I call back.

t walgamuth · #14 01-04-2008, 10:55 PM

Contracted work is a red flag for them. If you have been using subcontractors I hope you know the rules about it. The IRS is absolutely death on it. I know a fellow who lost his farm over it.

Tom W

Plantman · #15 01-05-2008, 08:14 AM

They surely would not be contacting you about sales tax as someone mentioned.

That's a state dept of revenue issue. At least here is Florida.

Good luck!