Posted on 08/24/2006 8:44:00 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
WASHINGTON (AP) - The IRS warned taxpayers Wednesday not to be duped by scammers posing as private debt collectors the agency has hired to chase unpaid tax debts.
The Internal Revenue Service designed the debt collection program to minimize that risk "because we know what it's like out there with regard to identity theft nowadays," said Brady Bennett, IRS director of collection.
But some critics of the program see so many pitfalls that they're urging debtors to insist on negotiating payment directly with the IRS.
The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents IRS employees and opposes the program, has even drafted a sample letter that taxpayers can send to opt out of the private collection program and demand that the IRS handle their case.
The IRS plans to assign 12,500 accounts with unpaid tax debts to three private agencies beginning Sept. 7. About 40,000 accounts will be turned over by the end of the year. The IRS chose taxpayers who owe less than $25,000 and don't dispute the debt.
Anyone contacted by a private collection agency has the right, among others, to insist that only the IRS deal with their account. Bennett said he hoped few taxpayers with debts sent to private collectors would opt out.
"The purpose of this program is to provide value to the American taxpayer. Those who don't pay have an impact on everybody else who does," he said.
scammers are waterin at the mouth over this opportunity..it's going to become a confused, jumbled mess..oh wait..nevermind..
I heard that they were using cap busters for collections on the news yesterday. The report went on to say that they were paying more for these services then if they did them themselves.
That's the gov't for ya.
Looks like the IRS union is against the outsourcing of the collections. Hmm...
Looks like FEMA's got some serious competition in the From Bad to Worse Games.
roflmao
Who should we fear most - the IRS or scammers?
Gee Whiz, does this mean that illegal aliens using stolen ID's could be prosecuted, deported, never passing GO and getting citizenship - and whatever they have taken and given to the person whose ID was stolen?
About 40,000 accounts will be turned over by the end of the year. This 'program' probably won't last very long...
I wonder if the IRS continues to outsource their audits to India. Created a big stink when that plan was announced last year.
"scammers are waterin at the mouth over this opportunity..it's going to become a confused, jumbled mess..oh wait..nevermind.."
I heard on the radio last night that it's limited to just 10 collection companies. I'm betting you could find some connection between each of these companies and someone in the government. Money has or will change hands.
one of the firms hired by the IRS, is proud that they have stayed out of legal trouble for a whopping 4 WHOLE YEARS..
from the article:
The firm hasn't been involved in a major scandal in four years. That's when one of its partners was caught on tape bribing two San Antonio city councilmen to get a contract to collect delinquent fees.
CBE Group Inc. of Waterloo, Iowa.
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP of Austin, Texas
Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc. of Arcade, N.Y., a unit of SLM Corp. (SLM), or Sallie Mae.
This "program" probably won't last very long....
Actually, IRS has been testing this concept and its related computer and collection programs since about 1996.
How many times have they turned over 40,000 accounts to private firms? The potential for abuse is too great.
Just think....no one has to worry about SSN's be lost or stolen on US government computers...they'll be giving them away.
Who comes up with these STUPID ideas?
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