With the tax season upon us, protecting your identity is more critical than ever. As noted by the IRS, tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your Social Security number to file a tax return claiming a fraudulent refund.
In many cases, you may be unaware a tax return has been fraudulently filed until you e-file or the IRS sends you a letter that a return has been filed using your social security number. This type of fraud is on the rise and even though the IRS and the states have come together and have enacted various safeguards to combat this type of fraud, there are certain measures you can take to proactively protect your identity.
For additional information on the measures being taken by the IRS, state tax agencies, and private-sector industries, refer to the Security Summit Partners Update Identity Theft Initiatives for 2017 and for information regarding the 2016 filing season refer to IRS, States and Industry Partners Provide Update on Collaborative Fight Against Tax-Related Identity Theft.