Tax-related identify theft occurs when someone uses your stolen Social Security number to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund.
Here’s some timely advice from your friends at Citizens Building & Loan on a rising concern.
Tax-related identify theft occurs when someone uses your stolen Social Security number to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund. The criminal will use a stolen SSN to file a forged tax return and attempt to get a fraudulent refund early in the filing season.
You may be unaware that this has happened until you file your legitimate return later in the filing season and discover another return has been filed using your SSN.
Or it could be that someone uses your stolen SSN to get a job. The employer may report that person’s income to the IRS using your SSN. When you file your tax return, you won’t include those earnings.
IRS records will show you failed to report all your income. The agency will send you a notice or letter saying you got wages but didn’t report them. The IRS doesn’t know those wages were reported by an employer you don’t know.
What is your best defense? File your claims early. If the IRS sends you a notice that makes you think someone used your SSN for a tax refund or a job — contact the IRS immediately. Specialists will work with you to get your tax return filed, get you any refund you are due, and protect your IRS account from identity thieves in the future.
Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. To learn more, visit ftc.gov/taxidtheft and irs.gov/identitytheft —sources for this article.
• Citizens Building & Loan, at 229 Trade Street, has been serving the mortgage lending and savings needs of Greer and the surrounding communities since 1907. For more information visit CB&LGreer.com.