AP-PA--Pennsylvania News Digest, PA

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<p>Tax season may be coming to a close, but you should still be wary of predators lurking at this time of year.</p><p>The IRS recently said it would begin using private debt collectors to collect years of unpaid taxes. It plans to start sending out letters this week, according to a press release. The private debt collection program was approved by Congress in December 2015.</p><p>&#8220;The IRS is taking steps throughout this effort to ensure that the private collection firms work responsibly and respect taxpayer rights,&#8221; said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen in a statement. &#8220;The IRS also urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scammers who might use this program as a cover to trick people. In reality, those taxpayers whose accounts are assigned as part of the private collection effort know they have a tax debt.&#8221;</p><p>Letters will be mailed first to the taxpayers and will be followed up with a phone call. The agency states the taxpayers will receive communication from the IRS first, then the private debt collectors.</p><p>The IRS is warning those taxpayers to be on the lookout for potential scammers trying to use this information to their advantage.</p><p>Those collection firms will discuss payment options with those who owe taxes, and those who do owe taxes would have first received a bill from the IRS in the mail.</p><p>The scammers tend to intimidate their victims over the phone and demand payment immediately. They also tend to threaten action from law enforcement if the victims don&#8217;t pay right away.</p><p>Also, if the caller doesn&#8217;t let you question or clarify what they are saying, just hang up.</p><p>&#8220;Unexpected and threatening calls out of the blue from someone saying they&#8217;re representing the IRS to collect a tax debt is a warning sign people should watch out for,&#8221; Koskinen said in a statement.</p><p>The IRS also said if you know you owe back taxes, you can reach out to the IRS and set up a payment plan directly with the agency, instead of waiting for a bill or a phone call. That will also decrease the likelihood of being a victim of this type of scam.</p><p>&#8220;If people have a problem paying their tax bill, we encourage them to reach out to us,&#8221; Koskinen said in a statement. &#8220;We have many programs designed to help people who are having trouble meeting their tax obligations. It&#8217;s better to reach out to us sooner rather than later for help, because interest and penalties on unpaid taxes can add up quickly.&#8221;</p><p>To read the full release, visit <a href="http://bit.ly/2nXsbBg" target="_blank">bit.ly/2nXsbBg</a>.</p><p><ins>For other business stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/business" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Consumer Watchdog</p><p>Sarah Hite Hando</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Sarah Hite Hando is the Times Leader business editor. Reach her at 570-704-3945 or shando@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Consumer Watchdog: Keep a watchful eye for tax scams, even as season ends