When Will These Debt Collectors Call?

The IRS has entered into contracts with four private collection agencies.

1. Conserve,

2. Pioneer,

3. Performant, and,

4. CBE Group

The first thing you need to know is that these third-party collectors won’t be calling just anyone who owes taxes to the federal government.

These agencies will only take over accounts if several criteria are met:


1. The tax debt has been removed from the IRS’s active inventory due to a lack of resources or an inability to find the taxpayer,

2. More than one-third of the applicable limitation period has passed and no IRS employee has been assigned to collect the receivable,

3. The debt has been assigned for collection, but more than 365 days have passed without interaction with the taxpayer for purposes of furthering collection of the receivable.

There are also a variety of tax accounts that the IRS will not hand over to third parties, including:


• Accounts for minors

• Taxpayers in designated combat zones

• Victims of tax-related identity theft
• Accounts that are subject to an installment agreement

• Innocent spouse cases

• People in presidential declared disaster areas who request relief from collection
.

Also very important:

These collection agencies are still are required to abide by the consumer protection provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

This means they can not call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

They can’t contact you at work after you’ve told them not to.

They can’t falsely claim you’ve committed a crime.

Misrepresent the amount you owe.

Threaten you with harm or arrest for lack of payment.

Need help resolving an IRS debt call us today and speak to a former IRS agents and managers you know the system.