1. Private Debt Collection
Ley Mills
IRS – Stakeholder Liaison
Sept 20, 2017

2. Private Collection Agencies
CBE Group
Conserve
Performant
Pioneer

3. Private Collection Agencies
Assign initial cases to agencies in the spring of
Covers tax debts owed that are currently not being worked by the IRS.
Agencies will work with the taxpayer and the representative to resolve the unpaid account.

4. Taxpayer Rights
Taxpayers working with agencies will have same rights as taxpayers working with IRS.
Agencies will be able to identify themselves as contractors of the IRS collecting taxes.
Private debt collectors will be expected to be courteous and respect taxpayers’ rights.

5. Efforts to Mitigate Scams
IRS will send taxpayer and rep written notice that it’s transferring their accounts.
Agency will send separate letter to taxpayer and rep confirming transfer.
Agency employees must follow Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Visit IRS.gov, “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” page

6. Scams (cont.) - Payments
Agencies won’t ask for payment on prepaid debit card.
Electronic payment options are on IRS.gov, Pay Your Tax Bill.
Checks payable to U.S. Treasury and sent directly to IRS, not private collection agency. 

7. More Information
Percentage of amount collected for program to hire/train IRS collection personnel
Revenue collected will be in addition to revenue coming in through IRS operations
Search "private debt collection“ on IRS.gov

8. New Secure Access Process for Get Transcript Online and other IRS
New Secure Access Process for Get Transcript Online and other IRS.gov Tools
Ley Mills
IRS – Stakeholder Liaison
Sept 20, 2017

9. Secure Access Process Secure Access Process
New authentication framework
More rigorous validation process
2-Factor authentication:
Password credentials
Security code sent by text
Get Transcript Online back online
Other tools under review

10. Process Prior to 2015 Email confirmation code Identity Proofing
Name and SSN
Date of Birth
Filing status and address on last filed return
Knowledge-Based Authentication (KBA)
Series of financial/personal questions only a taxpayer should know

11. New Authentication Steps
confirmation code
Same as before; code sent to address; taxpayer re-enters in order to continue to next step
Identity proofing
Similar as before
Two new steps:
Financial Verification
Activation code text sent to mobile phone

12. How to Successfully Authenticate
A readily available address that you can check immediately
An SSN
Account number information from either:
Credit card (last eight digits), or
Home mortgage, or
home equity mortgage or
home equity line of credit, or
Auto loan

13. How to Successfully Authenticate
A mobile phone that is
Supported by a data plan that includes texts
Associated with your name and/or address
Not a business-owned phone
Not a virtual phone, i.e. Skype, or a pay-as-you- go phone
Remove “credit freeze” if through Equifax

14. How to Successfully Authenticate
Returning Users (registered via Secure Access)
Need their username and password
Need their mobile phone to receive security code
Returning Users (registered via KBA process)
Password and user name still valid
Must provide financial verification
Must receive mobile phone text code

15. How to Successfully Authenticate
10 to 12 minute process for new users to register via Secure Access
Process repeatedly explains what tools/information needed for success
Repeatedly offers Get Transcript by Mail as an option
Other self-help tools, including IP PIN, added as warranted
Get Transcript Online for taxpayer use only

16. Higher Security/Lower Access
Trade offs for higher security
Fewer people able to authenticate
IRS monitoring pass rate;
Evaluate and adjust as necessary
Get Transcript by Mail option
Taxpayers always should retain copies of prior year tax returns

17. Looking Ahead – Digital Demand
Secure Access provides foundation for future self- help tools
Taxpayers demanding more digital options
Cost of IRS personal service: $40/$60 per transaction
Cost of IRS digital service: $1 per transaction
IRS remains committed to providing services needed by taxpayers

18. More Information
See News Release
See Fact Sheet

19. Upcoming Changes to the e-Services Registration Process
Ley Mills
IRS – Stakeholder Liaison
Sept 20, 2017

20. Combating Cybercriminals
Protecting taxpayer information and IRS systems a top priority;
Identity thieves amassing more and more personal and financial data;
Thieves impersonate taxpayers/users attempt to access IRS.gov self-help tools

21. Strengthening Authentication
Developed Secure Access Authentication
Two-step authentication for returning user
Credentials (username/password)
Security code text
Meets OMB and NIST standards
Protects Get Transcript Online and IP PIN tools
Risk assessment conducted on other IRS.gov tools

22. Protecting e-Services
Risk assessment determined e-services warranted more rigorous authentication protections
Starting late October, all e-service users must successfully re-register before accessing tools
Users must validate their identities through the Secure Access authentication process
TIN Matching users will renew their accounts through identity proofing only

23. What You Need to be Successful
Readily available address
Name, SSN, date of birth, filing status and address as listed on last filed return
Personal credit card or one of several other options for financial verification
Text-enabled mobile phone associated with your name, or you may request an activation code by mail.

24. What the IRS is doing to help
Adding assistors temporarily to the e-Help Desk
Assistors prepared to aid users having difficulty passing identity proofing or financial verification
Creating an “exception” process that will allow assistors to verify identities over the phone and issue an activation code by mail.

25. Other Key Points
The same Secure Access process supports Get Transcript Online registration
E-service users who successfully registered through Get Transcript Online after June will need only change their passwords
The e-service username will become default user name for all IRS.gov self-help tools

26. Other Key Points
Prepare ahead: Review Secure Access steps at IRS.gov/SecureAccess
Stay in contact with IRS through:
E-News weekly listserves
Quick Alerts
Twitter.com/irstaxpros
Facebook.com/irstaxpros

27. Contact Information
Name – Ley Mills Phone Number – Address –