Got this in my email today- anyone else gotten one of these? It's from 'paypal@paypal.com' and doesn't ask me for any info, so I don't think it's a scam. It also includes my name. PayPal has received a summons from the United States Internal Revenue Service requiring us to produce various account records, including data related to your PayPal account. PayPal understands the summons relates to the IRS' offshore compliance program in which the IRS has sought information about offshore credit card accounts from a number of companies. Your privacy is extremely important to PayPal. PayPal is obligated, however, to turn over the requested data. PayPal has been ordered by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California to provide the information to the IRS, and PayPal expects to begin providing this information to the IRS on January 10, 2008. The summons and court order both issue from the United States District Court in an action entitled: In The Matters of the Tax Liabilities of John Does, Case No. CV-05-04176-JW. If you have any concerns about the disclosure of this information, you should consult with your tax or legal advisor. You may have rights in connection with the summons, including the right to seek to prevent the IRS from obtaining some or all of the information. The statute of limitations that limits the time in which the IRS may assert tax liabilities against you may be suspended beginning on the date which is six months after the IRS served the summons upon PayPal and continuing until PayPal finally resolves its response to the IRS. See 26 U.S.C. § 7609(e)(2). PayPal cannot provide you with legal advice. If you have questions concerning the summons and court order, we encourage you to contact the IRS, your tax advisor and/or your attorney. If you wish to contact the Internal Revenue Service regarding this matter, they can be reached at (215) 516-4777. Thank You, The PayPal Legal Team
It's got to be a scam or spam of some sort. Surely you would not get a summons from the IRS through PayPal, or anything of the sort. If it were official and legal, it would have come through the mail, and probably certified. It appears many PayPal users are receiving this email. Yahoo Answers has a lot of posts right now regarding this.
Article from USA Today about the actual IRS issue with PayPal.... http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/taxes/2006-04-11-taxes-paypal_x.htm?csp=26
This doesn't really sound like me- I'm certainly not holding money in an offshore bank trying to avoid taxes. I haven't a clue why I was flagged. It makes me want to not use Paypal anymore, I can tell you that.
It looks legit. I don't you have to worry about anything unless you a running a huge online business without filing any taxes. If you are concerned, call paypal first and then call the IRS.
I guess its common sense but don't the IRS at the number in the email and if you do, don't supply them with any personal info.
Well....the article does not necessarily mean the email you received is legit. Sounds like it could be, but it also sounds like you don't have to do anything on your part. I would disregard the email, and don't click on any links within it, and sit by and wait to hear more if anything does in fact occur.
they're getting sneaky. remember, paypal always uses your real full name. if they don't at least provide that, don't trust it. you can always mask where the email is from, but check to see if any of the links are from paypal as well.
You can always check with IRS, if they are looking into your file, they have to tell you i would think?
It appears to be legit. HOWEVER - it's not saying they're turning over your information. It's only informing you that they've been summons'd to turn over information who will be under investigation. If you don't have offshore accounts, or sell a high dollar amount's worth of goods it appears this won't affect you whatsoever. If you call the IRS directly you will get a voice recording telling you this, BTW - which is how I got the info and my interpretation.
That's pretty much what I thought. And thanks for taking the time to call them- I really appreciate it!
