Abatement Adjustment Scam

How to Identify

• Initial Contact: Scammers often leave pre-recorded, urgent voicemails claiming to be from "Tax Mediation and Abatement Agency," "Tax Review Office," or similar entities.
• False Urgency: They claim a "short window" to act, using phrases like "new 2026 programs are rolling out".
• Fake Services: They claim to offer proprietary, "no-wait" lines to reduce your tax debt, often promising unrealistic results like reducing penalties to zero.
• Payment Methods: Scammers often demand payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or prepaid debit cards.

Protect Yourself

• IRS Doesn't Work This Way: The IRS sends a letter via mail first; they do not call you unexpectedly about debts.
• Verify the Call: If the caller claims to be a private collection agency for the IRS, ask for their verification information from the letter you received.
• Hang Up: If someone is pressuring you over the phone about a tax abatement, hang up immediately.
• Do Not Call Back: Do not use the phone numbers left on voicemails, as these lead directly to scammers.

If Targeted

• Report the Scam: Report scam calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484.
• Report Scam Emails: Forward any fake, tax-related emails to phishing@irs.gov.
• Report to Local Authorities: If you are contacted by scammers, check with local authorities for active fraud warnings, such as this Arkansas DFA Facebook post.

The IRS will never ask for payment through a private collection agency over the phone without first sending official documentation, says the IRS website.