Tax auditor call
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Wow! That's weird, but not her for me in Texas.
What kinds of questions?
There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.
Most of the questions were about being employee vs. independent contractor with them. The auditor asked about work conditions (work schedule, supervisor, reimbursements, insurance)
I remember a thread on a similar topic a while back. Unfortunately, I don't remember any details. Try the "Search" function. (I apologize, but I have to run.)
Good luck!
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Good luck!
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
@Plusha wrote:
Most of the questions were about being employee vs. independent contractor with them. The auditor asked about work conditions (work schedule, supervisor, reimbursements, insurance)
Sounds like the IRS.
Or, a new scheduler trying to create her/his own company.
Or, a "plant" who wants to see what you will divulge..
It was definitely a tax office. I'm just trying to figure out the reason behind this call. I assume if they were auditing me, then I would receive a letter, not a phone call. If they auditing company, how they got my number? Just weird.
i would be reluctant to answer any questions unless I had proof it was really official...i'd ask them to send a letter and give me a call back number I could confirm.
people can spoof numbers that show up on caller ID to make it look like it is really the tax office calling
people can spoof numbers that show up on caller ID to make it look like it is really the tax office calling
I wouldn't give them any information over the phone. Ask them to send you a letter with a list of questions and you'll be happy to answer.
This is a good point. Well, I wasn't asked any personal questions, only questions about the company. I was called from one number asking me to call back a different number, so I did call back. Maybe I shouldn't have but being audited last year and speaking with bunch of IRS employees I had no concerns about calling back.
The call sounds like classic social engineering. Someone looking for information by telling you (or implying) that they were with a government agency. This is often a form of industrial espionage.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Interesting. If they tried to get info out of me how they found out that I work for this company?
Go to the official website. Get the main number and ask for an extension or have the operator transfer your call. If they have an excuse that won't allow you to do that, then just hang up on them.
I would tell them that all contact must be by US mail and hang up anyhow. This is the IRS policy. They will never call or email you to initiate any contact ever.
I would tell them that all contact must be by US mail and hang up anyhow. This is the IRS policy. They will never call or email you to initiate any contact ever.
Those calls do appear from time to time, usually coming from state agencies rather than IRS. The whole point is to ask you questions to determine whether indeed you classify as an "independent contractor" or whether you are just being called an "independent contractor" to avoid certain financial obligations an employer would have.
Mystery shoppers do fit the basic IRS requirements overall, but states may have different guidelines. An independent contractor is free to accept or not accept a particular piece of work, they use their own equipment, manage their own schedule and are paid per job. There are some companies that are heavy handed enough with their constraints of when a job can be done and/or what actually must be said that a savvy tax auditor could indeed find that those companies are abusing the "independent contractor" status. It is concerns about this kind of abuse that lead some companies to require that you provide an EIN instead of just using your SSN or jump through other absurd hoops.
Mystery shoppers do fit the basic IRS requirements overall, but states may have different guidelines. An independent contractor is free to accept or not accept a particular piece of work, they use their own equipment, manage their own schedule and are paid per job. There are some companies that are heavy handed enough with their constraints of when a job can be done and/or what actually must be said that a savvy tax auditor could indeed find that those companies are abusing the "independent contractor" status. It is concerns about this kind of abuse that lead some companies to require that you provide an EIN instead of just using your SSN or jump through other absurd hoops.
To my knowledge the IRS only communicates through snail mail so I would check the source before answering any questions.
I agree with Flash. I think it was probably a valid call.
It was Marketforce and it was the only MSC that sent me a tax form.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2015 04:55PM by Plusha.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2015 04:55PM by Plusha.
Thanks for posting. I'm sure if there is an issue, they have a pile of lawyers to deal with it.
Another possibility is that you have had your identity compromised. Social security numbers and tax fraud are a huge issue. Since you were issued a 1099, someone could have gotten information, either from the mail or through hacking. Identity thieves know how to ask questions to gain information, even when it appears they are asking about someone else. From my (limited) knowledge, the government, state and federal, do not make phone calls. They correspond by mail. Consider calling Market Force and ask if they are being audited. They will know.
Just FYI - I recently learned a valuable lesson....that it is nothing to easily spoof a number to show up on your caller ID as anything you want. It's a free app you can download and you just put in the number you want to call, and the number and name you want to show up on the receivers phone. Works perfectly.
Extraordinarily deceiving. And dangerous.
Be careful out there kids.
Extraordinarily deceiving. And dangerous.
Be careful out there kids.
My understanding too, is that the IRS never calls you. They send you a snail mail notice.
Hopefully, you did not give any personal information (assuming) this was just someone trying to obtain information, not necessarily for the good.
Hopefully, you did not give any personal information (assuming) this was just someone trying to obtain information, not necessarily for the good.
I figure I can put my opinion here a little bit because I'm knowledgeable about the IRS and some other tax things. MF seems to be asking for such an examination. They shiver at the very sight of an EIN. They insist on SSN instead. I read but don't know first hand that they tell people when to have lunch or if they can have lunch. They are skating on thin Circular E ice. It would make sense to me if some examination is taking place. The next question is about how any tax agency investigator would get ahold of who deals with them. From disbursement records, from 1099's, and from Registration rolls. As for how they would contact who, well, that depends upon what division within an agency it is. The only problem I see is that the IRS would identify themselves as IRS. Not so an Attorney General or even legislator. And don't feel sure it is nothing if it isn't a letter. For certain it is interesting. But as for whether any company questions are personal, they are, if they affect a company you earn money from. Next time someone asks, insist that they identify themselves.
@Chix wrote:
Just FYI - I recently learned a valuable lesson....that it is nothing to easily spoof a number to show up on your caller ID as anything you want. It's a free app you can download and you just put in the number you want to call, and the number and name you want to show up on the receivers phone. Works perfectly.
Extraordinarily deceiving. And dangerous.
Be careful out there kids.
Thank you for the info. It's crazy what technology can do and kind of scary because it makes life of scammers so much easier.
PS: I had fun making a prank call to my MIL with app though
I got a call from the IRS but not this year. They had a lot of information that was on my tax form so if they were someone phishing for information from me there was not much that I could tell them except explain what they already knew. This was not about mystery shopping but was a valid call and since I was able to satisfy them with a phone audit I "passed" and did not have to go thru further investigation. It sounds as though the call Plusha received was similar...they had the sensitive information and they were asking her pretty general questions.
Be very careful! The files that provide emails of transcripts of tax returns have been breached. Anyone who has your tax return will, of course, sound legit.
See yesterday's business new from the IRS for details.
See yesterday's business new from the IRS for details.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I have read that the IRS NEVER calls, they send mail. I've been contacted several times - errors on tax returns, etc - and it's always via US mail. If you think about it, a lot of people don't answer the phone if they don't recognize the number, so they can't have a reasonable expectation of communicating with you. I NEVER check my messages either, so if they leave a message, I won't get it and they can't prove that I got the message.
As someone above pointed out, there are ways to spoof you with a different and official sounding number that shows up on your caller ID. Also suggested above: Ask them to send their requests in writing via US mail. It is mail fraud to misrepresent yourself saying that you are someone other than who you are. That is a Federal offence that falls under the umbrella of Bank Fraud.
As someone above pointed out, there are ways to spoof you with a different and official sounding number that shows up on your caller ID. Also suggested above: Ask them to send their requests in writing via US mail. It is mail fraud to misrepresent yourself saying that you are someone other than who you are. That is a Federal offence that falls under the umbrella of Bank Fraud.
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