Question

Last year the IRS stopped more than 1.4 million returns, totaling $8 billion, due to identity theft. Go to the IRS website (irs.gov) and type in “identity theft” in the search box. Share what you have learned with your classmates about protecting yourself from identity theft, and what steps you would take and why if you become a victim of identity theft.

Answer 1

Protecting yourself from identity theft:

1:Don’t carry your Social Security card or any documents that include your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
2:Don’t give a business your SSN or ITIN just because they ask. Give it only when required.
3: Protect your financial information.
4: Check your credit report every 12 months.
5: Review your Social Security Administration earnings statement annually.
6; Secure personal information in your home.
7: Protect your personal computers by using firewalls and anti-spam/virus software, updating security patches and changing passwords for Internet accounts.
8: Don’t give personal information over the phone, through the mail or on the Internet unless you have initiated the contact or you are sure you know who you are dealing with.

Steps for Victims of Identity Theft

1: All victims of identity theft should follow the recommendations of the Federal Trade Commission: File a report with the local police.
2. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.consumer.ftc.gov or the FTC Identity Theft hotline at 877-438-4338 or TTY 866-653-4261.
3. Contact one of the three major credit bureaus to place a “fraud alert’ on your account:

a)Equifax – www.equifax.com, 800-525-6285

b)Experian – www.experian.com, 888-397-3742
c)TransUnion – www.transunion.com, 800-680-7289

4. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.

If your SSN has been compromised and you know or suspect you may be a victim of tax-related identity theft, take these additional steps:

A. Respond immediately to any IRS notice; call the number provided.
B. Complete IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit. Use a fillable form at IRS.gov, print, then mail or fax according to instructions.
C. Continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must do so by paper.
D. If you previously contacted the IRS and did not have a resolution, contact the Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. We have teams available to assist.

The IRS has greatly reduced the time it takes to resolve identity theft cases but please know these are extremely complex cases, frequently touching on multiple issues and multiple tax years. It can be time consuming. A typical case can take about 120 days to resolve.

If you are unable to get your issue resolved and are experiencing financial difficulties, contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service toll-free at 877-777-4778.