One more worry at the start of tax season: The Michigan Department of Treasury warns state residents with past-due tax debts to be aware of a scam making the rounds through the U.S. Postal Service.

In the scheme, taxpayers receive a letter about an overdue tax bill, directing individuals to immediately contact a toll-free number to resolve an outstanding state tax debt. The letter aggressively threatens to seize a taxpayer’s property — including bank accounts, wages, business assets, cars, real estate and cash — if the debt is not settled.

“Over the last week, we have seen an uptick in reports of taxpayers receiving these letters,” said Deputy State Treasurer Ann Good, who oversees Treasury’s Financial and Administrative Services programs. “Taxpayers have rights. If you have questions about an outstanding state tax debt, please contact us through a verified number so we can talk about options.”

The piece of correspondence appears credible to the taxpayer because it uses specific personal facts pulled directly from publicly available information. The scammer’s letter attempts to lure the taxpayer into a situation where they could make a payment to a criminal.

The state Treasury Department corresponds with taxpayers through official letters that use state of Michigan letterhead that embody both the names of the governor and state treasurer. These official letters, sent through the U.S. Postal Service, provide several options to resolve an outstanding debt and outline taxpayer rights.

Taxpayers who receive a letter from a potential scammer or have questions about their state debts should call Treasury’s Collections Service Center at 517-636-5265. A customer service representative can log the scam, verify outstanding state debts and provide flexible payment options.