Back-to-school season is upon us all, and the IRS has issued new warnings about how many people are being hassled for what is being called a “federal student tax”. There is no such thing. Don’t fall for it.
As a reminder, the IRS has already told us that they will NOT:
• Call to demand immediate payment over the phone, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you several bills.
• Call or email you to verify your identity by asking for personal and financial information.
• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
• Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or email.
• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.
So if you ever receive such a call or communication (and especially if you do not owe tax), don’t engage with the scammer and do NOT give out any information. Just hang up.