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Private Debt Collection

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IRS Definition

The IRS began a new private collection program for certain overdue federal tax debts. The new program, authorized under a federal law enacted by Congress, enables designated contractors to collect, on the government’s behalf, outstanding inactive tax receivables.

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In 2017, the IRS began to turn over accounts it’s no longer actively working to private debt collectors. Those accounts include situations in which:

  • There’s a lack of resources.
  • The IRS can’t locate the taxpayer.
  • One year has passed without any IRS collection activity.
  • More than one-third of the 10-year statute of limitations has passed, and no IRS employee has been assigned for collection.

The IRS will send a CP40 notice to inform you that your case has been transferred to a private debt collector. The collector will also send you a letter informing you that it has received your case.

The IRS won’t transfer delinquent accounts if you are:

Learn all the options you may have if you can’t pay your taxes.

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