I received a government notice saying I owe a huge civil fine. Is this real?
Notices of this kind have been issued as genuine government action, with individual penalties reaching as high as $1,820,352 — the firm reports 65,101 civil fines totalling more than $36 billion between January 2025 and mid-March 2026. Do not disregard one on the assumption that it is a scam, and do not respond to it without advice either. Have an immigration attorney review the notice promptly, because the response window is where the options are.
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Collection powers reported by the firm include seizing tax refunds, garnishing wages and referring the debt to collectors, which puts wages, savings and personal property including a home or vehicle at risk. That exposure is why timing matters more than the size of the number on the notice.
AI-generated · Not attorney-reviewed