IRS Revenue Officer or NY Tax Agent Contact You? [ Must Know ] FAQs

By Charles Rosselli, Tax Attorney


If you tax liability has been assigned to an IRS Revenue Officer or NYS tax agent, your tax  matter has taken a position of high priority for enforcement in the eyes of the taxing authorities.

You can expect a visit at your home as a first point of contact, which can be intimidating to say the least. 

Talking to a Revenue Officer or Agent is not to your advantage. They do not represent your interests. 

Revenue Officers and NY tax agents have the discretion to refer your tax matter for criminal investigation. 

If you have been contacted by an IRS Revenue Officer or NYS tax agent, contact tax attorney Charles Rosselli right away. We can assist you regardless of location and help you resolve your tax problems while protecting you throughout the process.

Who is an IRS Revenue Officer?

An IRS Revenue Officer is local field officer for the IRS, whose job it is to collect back taxes that you may owe as quickly as possible.

Revenue Officers typically work out of IRS an office, in the county in which you reside or work. 

Revenue Officers represent the interests of the IRS, not yours.

Revenue Officers are highly trained in tax matters and often very aggressive with regard to their tactics. 

Revenue Officers are highly trained in tax matters and often very aggressive with regard to their tactics. 

For instance, a Revenue Officer can file tax liens against you; levy your bank accounts; subpoena records; garnish your wages; seize assets; contact your employer; and  issue a summons.

A Revenue Officer cannot arrest you. However, a Revenue Officer can refer you case to the IRS Criminal Division (CID).  

The IRS Criminal Division can arrest you.

The Internal Revenue Manual allows a  the Revenue Officer make the first contact in person.

You can expect a Revenue Officer to show up at your home or place of employment, if you are a business owner.

If you are not home or at your place of employment, the Revenue Officer may leave his business card with someone at work; at your home; or possibly a neighbor. 

If your tax matter is subject to criminal investigation from the IRS, you will contacted by an IRS Revenue Agent.

Having an IRS Revenue Officer assigned to your tax matter means that your tax liability is a serious matter in the eyes of the IRS.

Therefore, if you have ignored letters or notices in the past, you should take your tax matter seriously at this point.

NYS Tax Agent

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is responsible for the collection of taxes for the State of New York.


If you have ignored notices from NYS that you owe taxes, you matter may be assigned to a Compliance Agent for enforcement.

Similar to an IRS Revenue Officer, the job of an NY Tax Compliance Agent is collect the back taxes that are owed to NYS as quickly as possible.

Like Revenue Officer, NYS Agents can refer your tax matter for criminal investigation.

NYS tax agents work from the field and will visit you at your home as a first point of contact.

This activity can be considered highly aggressive, intimidating, and intrusive to many taxpayers.

However, it is a common practice.

NYS Tax Compliance Agents are also highly trained and can be considered aggressive in their collection tactics.

Seizure of assets, levying bank accounts, the issuance of tax warrants, the suspension of your driving license, and income executions are common tactics used for the enforcement of  tax liabilities.

With regard to NYS business tax issues, such as sales tax or other trust fund matters, a business owner can expect the above enforcement tactics as well as the seizure of merchant accounts and the eventual seizure and auction of your business assets. 


4 Reasons You Need Tax Help ASAP

Your Tax Matter is a High Priority for the Taxing Authorities

Neither the IRS nor the State  assigns field agents to matter that they are not a high priority in the eyes of the government.  

You want to make sure that your tax matter is being handled in the most proper manner possible.

Making a mistake is not an option.

You Don’t Know the Applicable Tax Laws

An IRS Revenue Officer or NY state tax agent is highly trained in tax matters.

You likely are not highly trained in tax matters.

You do not know your rights.

You are at a serious disadvantage and at their mercy.

Negotiating with a Revenue Officer or Tax Agent is not like negotiating a car.

Solutions are  based on the tax law.

If you want to make sure that you are protected throughout the process and that you know your options, the tax attorneys of the Tax Problem Law Center can help.

You Will Be Intimidated 

Since you do not know your options and you are most likely nervous, an IRS  Revenue Officer or NYS tax agent may intimidate you and pressure you into entering into an agreement that is not in your best interests. 

The IRS Revenue Officer or NYS Tax Agent Doesn't Represent You

You have to understand that a Revenue Officer represents the best interests of the IRS, not yours. Similarly, the New York State Tax Compliance Agent represents the interests of the New York Tax Department, not yours

Solving Your Tax Problem [ the first step ]

If you have been contacted by an IRS Revenue Officer or NYS tax agent, contact tax attorney Charles Rosselli right away.

Permanently Resolve Your IRS or NY Tax Problem Today