Scam Alert: Deceptive 'Final Demand for Payment' Letters Targeting PA Taxpayers

As tax season gets underway, the volume of scams escalates – which means you need remain vigilant and consider ways to protect yourself against fraudsters.

One recurring scam in Pennsylvania is a phony letter sent to taxpayers through the mail, which indicates a “final demand for payment” and includes a threat of seizure of property unless paid over the phone. 

What to look out for: 

Fraudulent letters may resemble correspondence from an actual collection agency, but there are some noticeable differences:

• The phony letters come from "Tax Assessment Procedures Domestic Judgment Registry." No such entity exists.
• The letters do not include a return address. A notice from the Department of Revenue will always include an official Department of Revenue address as the return address.
• The recipient owes the "State of Pennsylvania" unpaid taxes, rather than the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or Department of Revenue.
• The phony letters are very generic and do not include any specific information about the taxpayer's account. Legitimate letters from the Department of Revenue will include specifics, such as an account number and any liability owed, to give the taxpayer as much information as possible. Letters from the Department of Revenue also include more detailed contact information and multiple options to contact the department.
• The phony letters focus on public records, such as tax liens, that anyone can access. Enforcement letters from the Department of Revenue include more detailed information about the taxpayer's account and any liabilities that are owed.

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue offers these tips:

• If you are contacted, DO NOT give money or personal information out - to you ensure that it is a true notice and not a scam. 
• As stated above, look for vague wording and limited detail to determine if the notice is legitimate. 
• If you get a notice, take time to do some independent research. Head online and do some researching of the name, contact information, or address on the notice, in doing so you may learn that it is not what it claims. 

When you have concerns about a possible scam

If you are concerned with a notice, and believe it to be a scam, you are always able to get in contact with a legitimate representative by viewing the PA Department of Revenue website under Verifying Contact By the Department of Revenue. 

Also, if you believe you are a victim of one of these phony notices, contact the Bureau of Fraud Detection & Analysis by emailing Ra-rvpadorfraud@pa.gov or calling 717-772-9297. The bureau's phone line is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information on ways to protect yourself, visit PA Department of Revenue's Identity Theft Victim Assistance webpage. You can also find further information about protecting yourself online at PA.gov/Cybersecurity.

Please contact your Herbein tax consultant if you have questions regarding this article, or if you believe you have received a tax scam letter.

Article contributed by Zavery L. Lesher