Yes, You Should Pay Your Taxes but Don’t Get Cheated by this Scam

The Michigan Department of Treasury wants your money but they also want to warn you of a tax scam happening right now.

If you receive what appears to be a government-looking piece of correspondence in the mail about an overdue tax bill, it may be a scam. The letter appears credible because it uses specific personal facts about outstanding tax debts pulled directly from publicly available information and asks the taxpayer to immediately contact a toll-free number to resolve a tax debt or face asset seizure. You guessed it, the toll-free number (and your money) goes to the crooks.

All taxpayers need to be aware of this scam. If you have questions about an outstanding state debt, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The state Treasury Department’s correspondence involves official letters sent through the U.S. Postal Service, including several options to resolve your debt and information outlining your taxpayer rights.

-Deputy State Treasurer Ann Good

If you get a letter from a scammer or have questions about your state debts, call Michigan's Treasury’s Collections Service Center at 1-866-218-7224. A customer service representative can log the scam, verify outstanding state debts and provide flexible payment options. To learn more about Michigan’s taxes and the collections process, go to www.michigan.gov/taxes or follow the state Treasury Department on Twitter at @MITreasury.