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Worth noting that the IRS will not call without having sent a letter first

And realistically, they send a letter. They then follow up with a certified letter. Then they may move on to other means.

New scams have been sending fake letters claiming to be from the irs.

Whoa, that's a thing now? How prevalent is it?

I haven't seen the letters. Isn't that considered a federal crime since it's fraud via the US Postal Service?

Isn't it fraud already a federal crime?

Federal? No. You defraud someone and it is state, local, or even civil.. unless circumstance (e.g. via mail) makes it a federal offense.

What about if you defraud somebody by pretending to be the IRS?

Probably a federal crime.

The letters are carefully worded to not actually claim to be from the IRS.

They're 'offering IRS guidance' or from the 'department of taxation'