One of the few: If the IRS is investigating you for back taxes, you are one of the few. It is rare for people to be criminally investigated by the IRS. But if there is strong evidence of your crime, the IRS will send its qualified police force. Especially if it involves more than $10,000 in taxes. So what do you need to know if you get a call from one of the IRS special agents?

know your enemy: The IRS Criminal Investigations Division (CID) is a force to be reckoned with. IRS personnel working in this department are known as “Special Agents.” They are graduates of the FBI Academy, they know all the procedures of the IRS and they have all the resources of the Federal Government to use. They are very adept at finding unpaid taxpayers.

Pleaded guilty: Normal crime investigators investigate the crime. IRS special agents are different. They investigate the suspect. For example, if they suspect someone, they can thoroughly investigate them, even if no crime has occurred. With the IRS, you are guilty until proven innocent.

4 steps special agents take:  

• Calling everyone around you: Be careful what you say to your friends. When a special agent is investigating you, they can call your friends, neighbors, family, co-workers, employees, bankers, insurance agents, business associates, even your spouse can be contacted. And if applicable, special agents can also call your travel agent.

• touch phone: The special agent can obtain a court order that allows them to tap your phone lines.

• Accountants and Bankers: They’ll keep their mouths shut, right? Think again. The CID can be intimidating. Although they may not overtly threaten any action against your bank or Accountant for withholding information, the Special Agent’s subtle intimidation could get you ratted out.

• Monitoring of your mailNote: Special Agents will not have the right to open your mail. But they will keep track of return addresses. They can also get copies of bills from phone companies and credit cards.

last in: If the CID is investigating you, you’re probably the last person they’re going to interview. By the time the CID gets back to you, they may have already talked to a lot of witnesses and accessed a lot of evidence against you. The special agent may contact you to obtain a confession, but don’t forget your rights. You still have the right to remain silent. If you don’t know what to do, you can seek professional help.

Now you have the smoking gun… Use it!