In a new alert, the IRS warned taxpayers to be on guard against bogus emails telling recipients that they owe money for taxes related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The IRS has received numerous reports from around the country about scammers sending a fraudulent version of CP2000 notices for tax year 2015. The scam usually includes a fake CP2000 as an attachment to the email.
What Is a CP2000?
A CP2000 notice is mailed by the IRS to a taxpayer if income reported from third-party sources (such as an employer) doesn’t match the income reported on the person’s tax return. It is sent through the United States Postal Service and is never sent as an email.
Importantly, a CP2000 notice isn’t a bill. It informs a taxpayer about an issue and how it affects an individual’s tax situation. The notice contains instructions on what a taxpayer should do if he or she disagrees with the information. It also requests that a check be made out to “United States Treasury” if the taxpayer agrees additional tax is owed. Or, if an individual is unable to pay, the notice provides instructions for payment options, such as installment payments.
What Does the Fake CP2000 Notice Email Say?
Here are some other aspects of the fake emailed CP2000s:
- The fraudulent CP2000 notice included a payment request that taxpayers mail a check made out to “I.R.S.” to the “Austin Processing Center” at a Post Office Box address. This is in addition to a “payment” link within the email itself.
- They appear to be issued from an Austin, Texas, address.
- The underreported issue is said to be related to the ACA requesting information regarding 2014 coverage.
- The payment voucher lists the letter number as 105C.
Scams Take Many Forms
This scam is just the latest in a long series of IRS impersonation schemes. They can involve threatening telephone calls, phishing emails and demanding letters. If you receive this scam email (or others), you should forward it to phishing@irs.gov and then delete it from your email account.
You should beware of any unsolicited emails, phone calls and other communications purported to be from the IRS or any unknown source. Never open an attachment or click on an email link sent by sources you don’t know. Contact the tax team at Cornwell Jackson if you have questions.
