Residents across the Hudson Valley have received fake letters demanding immediate payment of alleged outstanding tax debts. The state Department of Taxation and Finance has issued a warning about fake letters that list the “Tax Processing Center-Internal Processing Service-Public Judgment Records Department” as the return address. The letter threatens to revoke passports and driver’s licenses if payment is not made immediately to the address provided and also provides an 888 number. Acting State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller called the letter a “common scam where the recipient is threatened with punitive action out of the blue if they do not pay immediately.” One victim received a letter demanding $12,444, while another said her letter was for a past-due bill of $9,568. Commissioner Hiller said legitimate letters from her department always include the tax agency logo, the full return address, options to respond online, by phone or mail, the tax agency’s website address and explanations of why the letter was sent and what the recipient’s rights as a taxpayer are. Anyone who receives such a fake letter is asked to contact their local police department or the state tax agency at 518-451-1566.

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