The man returned and told me the lead investigator was on the line with us now. (Seriously.) Had he been arrested? Did he have a one hour warning? How much did he owe? It's amazing how quickly I started to doubt my innocence and forgot any rights I might have once the government-or someone I believed worked for the government-decided I was guilty. I even started thinking about Wesley Snipes, and wondered if this is what he went through. Instead of thinking logically, I was imagining being arrested in front of the Forbes office. However, those weren't the thoughts that crossed my mind in the few minutes I was on hold. Why was he suddenly willing to negotiate? Being an IRS agent, wouldn't he already have records showing my clean record? Wouldn't I have been audited if the IRS believed I owed taxes? They're seizing my property over $4,900?
He puts me on hold.Īt this point, I should have known something was wrong. He tells me he will speak with the lead investigator and see if we can work something out. This is the first time I've ever been faced with something like this," I say with my voice trembling. He told me the investigation was beyond the point of payment-it was too late.īut then he went on to ask me questions like: Have I been part of any previous tax fraud cases? Are there currently any judgements against me? Are there any lawsuits pending against me? I don't even know what that means, but it was enough of a threat for me to ask why I couldn't just pay him the amount owed. He repeated that my social security number would be blacklisted. We came to your house but you were not home." I then asked what I owed the government. His reply: "This isn't our first attempt to make you aware.
When he was finally done (by now, my heart is racing) I asked again why this was the first time I was hearing about it. When I interrupted him to ask why this was the first time I was hearing about this, he ignored my question, paused and began repeating the details of the investigation. Further, my social security number was now blacklisted.īy now, I'd stopped in my tracks as I listened with fear to this IRS agent who went on to tell me someone would be waiting at my office to arrest me. There would be a massive penalty, plus possible jail-time. He then told me the government was seizing any property and any assets in my name, that it had already froze my bank and credit card accounts, suspended my driver's license as well as my passport.
He told me that I'd failed to declare all of my income and engaged in tax fraud. He recited the last four digits of my social security number and knew where I worked. Ask your questions after I'm finished," he said.įor the next 5 or so minutes, I listened in absolute panic. He asked if I had a lawyer, and then told me about the investigation.
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