Unannounced In Person Visits To Be Discontinued by IRS For Taxpayers’, Employees’ Safety

The Internal Revenue Service announced that it will discontinue its unannounced in person visits to homes or businesses. Reports say the decision came following safety concerns from taxpayers and the agency’s employees.

On July 24, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that it will end its practice of unannounced in person visits to homes and businesses. Reports say that part of the IRS overhaul is the policy change that intends to alleviate public confusion and improve the safety of taxpayers and employees.

According to Dore, IRS revenue officers in the past conducted unannounced in person visits to homes and businesses to recover substantial tax debt with an average unpaid balance of $110,000. However, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated that the change will now reverse the long-established practice by the IRS revenue officers.

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Decision to End Unnanounced In Person Visits

According to Archie, the IRS’ decision to end the unannounced in person visits came after taxpayers and the agency’s employees expressed their concerns about safety. Therefore, effective immediately, the IRS will make initial contact with a taxpayer through a mailed letter known as the 725-B. The 725-B primarily intends to schedule in person visits with taxpayers.

However, despite the policy change discontinuing most unannounced in person visits, there are extremely rare situations when they could still happen such as summonses, subpoenas, or seizure of assets.

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