{"id":6121,"date":"2016-10-05T03:29:20","date_gmt":"2016-10-05T07:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=5649"},"modified":"2020-09-17T08:41:15","modified_gmt":"2020-09-17T13:41:15","slug":"irs-hires-debt-collectors-target-expats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/irs-hires-debt-collectors-target-expats\/","title":{"rendered":"IRS Hires Debt Collectors to Target Expats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back in December of 2015, Congress passed a law that requires the IRS to hire private debt collectors. Today, the IRS hired those debt collectors and the program will begin in earnest after October 15. <\/span><\/p>\n

The primary job of IRS private debt collectors will be to target expats and residents with delinquent tax bills. If you owe Uncle Sam, get ready for the harassment and late night calls that are sure to come. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the obvious concerns of harassment and your private data being handed over to a debt collector, the IRS outsourcing collections to debt collectors opens the door to scammers. How can we expats know the difference from a real collection agent and a scammer?<\/span><\/p>\n

Most of us know that the IRS doesn\u2019t call you to collect a debt. If they want your attention, they mail a letter to your last know address, an agent visits your house, they levy your bank account and garnish your wages. Those are the ONLY methods the IRS uses to \u201ccontact\u201d a taxpayer. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, it\u2019s a scam. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now that debt collectors will begin targeting Americans, this logic out the window. These debt collectors will use any and all resources at their disposal to find and coerce you into paying so they earn their commission. They will use late night calls and auto dialers\u2026 the exact methods the IRS warned us about in this <\/span>August 2016 post<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is especially important for expat Americans. If you and your assets are out of the United States, the \u00a0only way these contractors can pressure you is over the phone. Seems unlikely they\u2019ll fly to Panama or Belize, so <\/span>expect phone calls to begin rolling into you, your employer, and your friends<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n

And we expat Americans will be the primary targets of these debt collectors. If the IRS has been unable to collect from you, because your assets are protected offshore, your case will be transferred to a debt collector.<\/span><\/p>\n