The IRS on Monday ended its controversial practice of unannounced visits to homes or businesses from agency revenue officers for most taxpayers. Part of a broader IRS overhaul, the policy change aims to lessen public confusion and improve safety.
“Starting today, if someone’s ringing your doorbell, it’s extremely unlikely to be an IRS collection employee unless you made an appointment for a home visit,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told reporters on a call. “The change reverses a long-standing practice by IRS revenue officers that goes back decades.”
Previously, revenue officers — different from the revenue agents who conduct audits — visited homes and businesses unannounced to recover “substantial tax debt” with a median unpaid balance of $110,000, he said.