Emails from the IRS

[TaxBird]

The IRS still doesn't send emails, right?

My client got the one below:

"Taxpayer ID : [client first name - omitted by Tax Bird] 00000174073547US
Tax Type Income Tax
Issue: Unreported/Underreported Income (Fraud Application)

Please review your tax statement on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website (click on the link below)
Review tax statement for taxpayer id : [client first name - omitted by Tax Bird]-00000174073547US

From : Internal Revenue Service (no-reply@irs.gov)"

I advised my client that it was most likely a fake. Does anyone kno wthe background on this? Any idea where these are originating?

One curious fact, though, it seems that the email cannot be forwarded. Do any of you know if it is possible to restrict an email from being forwarded?

Any input would be welcome.

[AuditorTurnedGood]

I had a client

get an e-mail from the same "address" about a year ago - S-Corp and the e-mail stated they had an additional refund. It looked legitimate, and went to the President of the company, so she gave it to me. Good thing, it was a phishing expedition. I was able to forward that one though. Maybe they're evolving.

[NotEasy]

I can be wrong here but I remember I read somewhere before that the IRS would not contact a taxpayer with email.

[JohnH]

You probably read it here:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211669,00.html

==================Excerpt ======================================
What to Do

The IRS does not initiate taxpayer contact via unsolicited e-mail or ask for personal identifying or financial information via e-mail. If you receive a suspicious e-mail claiming to come from the IRS, take the following steps:

Do not open any attachments to the e-mail, in case they contain malicious code that will infect your computer.

Do not click on any links, for the same reason. Also, be aware that the links often connect to a phony IRS Web site that appears authentic and then prompts the victim for personal identifiers, bank or credit card account numbers or PINs. The phony Web sites appear legitimate because the appearance and much of the content are directly copied from an actual page on the IRS Web site and then modified by the scammers for their own purposes.

Contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to determine whether the IRS is trying to contact you.
================================================== ===================

[ChEAr$]

And while you may not be able to forward a certain email, you can always cut and paste
the body of it into a new email along with certain "from" data in the header.

[FEDUKE404]

Another link

You probably read it here:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=211669,00.html

or perhaps here:

http://www.snopes.com/fraud/phishing/unreported.asp

FE

[geekgirldany]

I've been getting those emails all this week.

[Zee]

In general, the IRS prohibits sending email or faxes to Tapayers, but they do accept email or faxed information from taxpayers. This is for security & disclosure reasons. Most contacts are by phone, or letter and the language is often cumbersome because the wording of letters issued on numbered forms cannot be changed. Occasionally, an agent may send an innocuous email to a POA, for example, confirming an appointment. In that case, the email cannot mention the taxpayer's name or provide any information that could identify the taxpayer involved, etc. But, it is highly discouraged since small exceptions could create problems. Auditor's are even advised not to call one taxpayer using another taxpayer's telephone because caller ID would disclose the identity of another.

[luke]

forwarded

to IRS - was told in seminar that IRS would NOT email notices like this EVER - there is a LINK in the email do NOT open it!

[Zee]

That's correct.

[FEDUKE404]

Play it again, Sam

to IRS - was told in seminar that IRS would NOT email notices like this EVER - there is a LINK in the email do NOT open it!

I believe JohnH and others have pretty well already addressed these issues and more in earlier posts

FE

[newbie]

to IRS - was told in seminar that IRS would NOT email notices like this EVER - there is a LINK in the email do NOT open it!

We were advised the same at a seminar earlier this week.

[gkaiseril]

The IRS still doesn't send emails, right?

My client got the one below:

"Taxpayer ID : [client first name - omitted by Tax Bird] 00000174073547US
Tax Type Income Tax
Issue: Unreported/Underreported Income (Fraud Application)

Please review your tax statement on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website (click on the link below)
Review tax statement for taxpayer id : [client first name - omitted by Tax Bird]-00000174073547US

From : Internal Revenue Service (no-reply@irs.gov)"

I advised my client that it was most likely a fake. Does anyone kno wthe background on this? Any idea where these are originating?

One curious fact, though, it seems that the email cannot be forwarded. Do any of you know if it is possible to restrict an email from being forwarded?

Any input would be welcome.

See IRS page http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...155682,00.html

[TaxBird]

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who responded.