RefundtalkTax fraud involving identity theft is big business. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) wants to help you understand your risks, and be proactive in preventing others from gaining access to your tax ID and data. An initiative from the Security Summit is encouraging business owners and eligible taxpayers to opt into a security program offered by the…
Category Archives: Identity Theft
IRS Taking Steps to Boost Security to Avoid Cyberattacks
With the move to remote work, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) continues to work to deter and prevent cyberattacks on confidential taxpayer information. Personal information is valuable to digital bad actors. The IRS is a sweet resource for fraudsters looking for a goldmine of information on a large number of consumers. Income, refunds, addresses, bank…
Identity Protection
Was your identity stolen? Request an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS The Internal Revenue Service today reminded all taxpayers – particularly those who are identity theft victims – of an important step they should take to protect themselves from tax fraud. Some identity thieves use taxpayers’ information to file fraudulent tax returns. By requesting…
What is a Badge of Fraud?
A “badge of fraud” is an indicator used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to flag a potentially fraudulent return, transaction, or activity. A better understanding of what triggers IRS interest can help you steer clear of an IRS audit, or worse, an IRS criminal tax investigation. When evaluating for tax fraud, the IRS uses…
Protect Yourself From Tax-Related Identity Theft
Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), to file a tax return. Although tax identity theft is less prevalent than other types of identity theft, it can still cause some major headaches and take some time to resolve. To help reduce your chances of becoming…
Taxpayers Can Protect Themselves from Scammers by Knowing How the IRS Communicates
If the IRS does call a taxpayer, it should not be a surprise because the agency will generally send a notice or letter first. Understanding how the IRS communicates can help taxpayers protect themselves from scammers who pretend to be from the IRS with the goal of stealing personal information. Here are some facts about how…
IRS Offers Guidance To Taxpayers On Identity Theft Involving Unemployment Benefits
The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers who receive Forms 1099-G for unemployment benefits they did not actually get because of identity theft to contact their appropriate state agency for a corrected form. States issue Forms 1099-G to the taxpayer and to the IRS to report what taxable income, such as refunds or unemployment benefits,…
Identity Theft and IRS Letter 5071C
You just opened your mail and discovered that you have received an IRS Letter 5071C for the previous tax year. Confused, you read the notice a few times over and still cannot seem to wrap your mind around it. You did not file a tax return for the 2020 tax year, so why would the…
IRS launches Identity Theft Central
IRS launches Identity Theft CentralFocuses on needs of taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses The Internal Revenue Service today launched Identity Theft Central, designed to improve online access to information on identity theft and data security protection for taxpayers, tax professionals and businesses. Located on IRS.gov, Identity Theft Central is available 24/7 at irs.gov/identitytheft. It is a…
IRS Investigated 3,400 Cases of Tax ID Theft, Laundering, Cybercrime and Terrorism in 2016
In 2016, the Criminal Investigation (CI) division of the Internal Revenue Service initiated 3,395 cases in the fiscal year 2016 that focused on tax-related identity theft, money laundering, public corruption, cybercrime, and terrorist financing. That’s according to the IRS Criminal Investigation annual report, reflecting the significant accomplishments and criminal enforcement actions taken in the fiscal year 2016.…
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