Collection notice for delinquent taxes? Why did I get this when I filed on time and got refunds every year?

What you're describing sounds like it could be a third-party collection attempt, but there are several red flags here. First, the IRS doesn't typically use private collection agencies called "Revenue Recovery Solutions" - they have specific contracted agencies they work with, and they would send you multiple notices directly from the IRS before any collection activity. More importantly, if this is a state tax issue rather than federal, each state has its own procedures, but they also typically send multiple notices before involving collections. The fact that you've never received any prior notices is very suspicious. Don't panic, but don't ignore it either. DO NOT call the phone number on that letter or send money to any address listed. Instead: 1. Contact your state tax department directly using the number from their official website (not the letter) to verify if you actually owe anything. 2. Request a "verification of debt" letter from the collection agency in writing. 3. Pull your tax transcripts from the IRS website to confirm your federal filing status.

I had almost the same situation last year and was freaking out just like you! After days of stressing and getting nowhere with the collection agency, I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was seriously a game changer. You just upload the collection notice and it analyzes everything to tell you if it's legit or a scam, and exactly what to do next. In my case, it turned out to be a mix-up where someone with a similar name had their tax debt incorrectly assigned to me. The taxr.ai system flagged several suspicious elements in the letter that I wouldn't have noticed. Then it generated all the dispute documentation I needed to send to both the collection agency and the state. Saved me so much anxiety!

Alright I need to eat my words about taxr.ai because I actually tried it after posting that skeptical comment. It immediately identified that my "collection letter" was a sophisticated scam - it had a fake agency name that was one letter off from a real authorized collection agency. The system showed me comparison examples and highlighted specific legal disclosure language that was missing. The tool also pulled my actual tax transcript (after I authorized it) and confirmed I had no outstanding balances. It even generated a scam report I could send to the FTC and state AG. I'm honestly impressed because I nearly fell for it - the letter looked extremely official and had a bunch of my personal info correct. Good thing I didn't call that number!

When I was dealing with a similar tax collection notice last year, I kept trying to call the IRS to verify if it was real. Spent HOURS on hold over multiple days and kept getting disconnected. Totally maddening! I finally tried Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an actual human agent is about to pick up. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Ended up speaking with an IRS agent who confirmed the collection letter I received was unauthorized. The agent flagged it in their system and helped me file a report. Such a relief to talk to a real person instead of just stressing about whether it was legitimate. Would've taken me weeks to get through otherwise.

Ok I have to update this - I actually tried Claimyr yesterday after posting my skeptical comment. I'd been trying to reach the IRS about a missing refund for literally 3 months with no success. After signing up with Claimyr, I got a call back in about 2 hours with an actual IRS agent on the line! The agent was able to look up my account and found that my refund had been held because of a discrepancy between what my employer reported on my W-2 and what I'd entered on my return. Apparently they sent a notice that I never received. The agent helped me resolve it on the spot and released my refund. I would never have gotten this fixed without actually speaking to someone. Now I feel stupid for wasting months trying to get through on my own.

One thing no one's mentioned yet - check your credit report ASAP! If this is a legitimate tax debt that's gone to collections, it might already be reported to the credit bureaus and damaging your credit score. You can get free weekly credit reports from all three bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for any collection accounts or government debts that you don't recognize. If you find anything suspicious, dispute it immediately while you're working on verifying the debt. Also, if this does turn out to be a scam, consider putting a fraud alert on your credit reports since scammers may have some of your personal information.

This EXACT thing happened to me earlier this year! In my case, it turned out someone had stolen my identity and filed a fraudulent return in a state I've never even lived in. The collection letter was my first indication anything was wrong. Here's what I learned to do: 1. File an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov 2. Contact your state tax agency AND the state mentioned in the letter 3. Consider freezing your credit reports 4. File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) The most frustrating part was that the scammer only needed basic info about me to file a fake return, but I needed to provide mountains of documentation to prove I was the real me. The whole process took about 3 months to resolve.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stress! As someone who works in tax resolution, I can tell you that legitimate tax collection notices almost NEVER come out of nowhere like this. The IRS and state tax agencies have very specific procedures they must follow before engaging third-party collectors. Here are the immediate red flags I see in your situation: 1. You've never received ANY prior notices - this is extremely unusual for legitimate tax debt 2. The collection agency name "Revenue Recovery Solutions" isn't on the IRS list of authorized private collection agencies 3. You consistently file on time and receive refunds Before doing anything else, DO NOT contact the collection agency directly. Instead: - Call your state tax department using the official number from their website (not any number from the letter) - Request your IRS tax transcript online at irs.gov to verify your account status - If you discover this is fraudulent, file a complaint with the FTC, your state attorney general, and the IRS The 15-day deadline they're giving you is a classic high-pressure tactic used by scammers. Legitimate tax agencies provide much longer response periods and multiple notice opportunities. Stay calm and verify everything through official channels first!

I went through something very similar last year and can totally understand the panic you're feeling right now! The good news is that what you're describing has several classic signs of a scam. Here's what really stands out to me: legitimate tax collection follows a very predictable pattern. You would have received multiple notices directly from the IRS or your state tax agency BEFORE any third-party collection agency ever gets involved. The fact that you've always filed on time, gotten refunds, and never received a single prior notice makes this extremely suspicious. A few immediate things to check: - Look up "Revenue Recovery Solutions" on the IRS website's list of authorized private collection agencies - I suspect you won't find them there - Check if the letter has proper debt validation disclosures required by federal law - See if they're demanding immediate payment without offering dispute rights Don't let that 15-day deadline pressure you into doing anything hasty. Real tax agencies give you much more time and multiple opportunities to respond. Take a deep breath, and start by calling your state tax department directly using the number from their official website (NOT any number from that letter) to verify if you actually owe anything. You're being smart by asking questions before taking action. Most people who fall for these scams act quickly out of fear, which is exactly what the scammers are counting on!