Tax Scam Reported Locally

Residents across the Hudson Valley have been receiving phony letters demanding immediate payment for supposed outstanding tax debt. The State Department of Taxation and Finance has issued an alert regarding fake letters that list a return address of the “Tax Processing Center-Internal Processing Service-Public Judgment Records Department.”  The letter threatens to have the individual’s passport and driver’s license revoked unless immediate payment is forwarded to the given address.  An 888 number is also provided.  Acting State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller described the letter as a “common scam in which the recipient is threatened out of the blue with punitive action unless payment is made immediately.  One victim received a letter demanding $12,444, while another said her letter indicated a $9,568 overdue bill.  Commissioner Hiller said legitimate letters from her department always include a tax department logo, complete return mailing address, options to respond online, by phone or mail, the tax department’s website address, and explanations as to why the letter was sent and the rights for the recipient as a taxpayer.  Anyone receiving such a phony letter is asked to contact his or her local police department or the State Department of Taxation at 518-451-1566.