As if it weren't enough that online thieves pose as IRS agents in an attempt to steal personal information from U.S. citizens, a new scam making the rounds is aimed at non-resident aliens who may be confused about their U.S. tax status.
Using an official looking cover letter and Form W-8BEN (which is a very real IRS form), the scammers seek to get personal and banking information from non-resident individuals by holding out the promise of a tax exemption. The letter sample we have seen is riddled with typographical and grammatical errors, but could fool a person unfamiliar with U.S. tax laws.
The IRS website specifically states:
"The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media channels."
Please be alert for this and other tax-related scams, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Additionally, feel free to share this information with your employees so they are aware of this tax scam as well. Do not reply to any e-mail, even if it purports to be from the IRS. Instead report the communication to the IRS at [email protected].
For more information about this or any other tax scam, or for answers to your tax questions, please contact us.