An IRS Revenue Officer is IN My House, What Do I Do?
First, be polite, professional, courteous, and honest! Remember, the Revenue Officer is forming a first impression. Since the IRS is the most powerful collection agency on the planet, you certainly do not want to immediately put yourself on the defensive. Since the Officer is already in your home, understand that you DO NOT have to talk to the Officer.
The officer will identify themselves and immediately begin to ask collection questions. These will be questions such as, where do you bank? Where do you work? How much can you pay the IRS every month to resolve your back taxes? Unless you are prepared to represent yourself (usually a bad idea), respond with the following:
“I would like to answer all of your questions, please give me the opportunity to seek representation. My representative will be able to answer your questions.”
A professional Revenue Officer will accept that answer and leave their card.
An unprofessional Revenue Officer may try to convince to not to seek representation by saying the following:
- They may try to badger you by saying, do you have something to hide?
- A representative is only going to cost you money, we can solve this problem right now.
You may have to repeat the following:
“I would like to answer all of your questions, please give me the opportunity to seek representation. My representative will be able to answer your questions.”
What do you do next?
Immediately after the Revenue Officer leaves begin the process to find representation. DO NOT use this as an opportunity to stall. If you delay too long, the Revenue Officer will be back.
Once you have retained a representative, have them immediately reach out to the Revenue Officer and identify themselves as your representative.
Begin the process to accurately prepare your financial statement and to present it in the best light.
Handle an unexpected visit at your home, by the IRS, by being polite, professional, courteous, and honest. Resist the temptation to try to please the Revenue Officer by talking to him/her. Congress gave you an important right in the Bill of Rights, The Right to Representation; use it!