BBB® Warns of Tax Identity Theft

Pensacola, Fla. (Jan. 26, 2015) – Ready for tax season? If you haven’t heard about tax identity theft, you may not be.

Tax identity theft happens when someone files a phony tax return using your personal information — like your Social Security number — to get a tax refund from the IRS. It also can happen when someone uses your Social Security number to get a job or claims your child as a dependent on a tax return.

In the spirit of Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week (Jan. 26-30), BBB offers these tips to help you keep your identity to yourself:

• File your tax return electronically or, if you choose to mail it, do so directly from the post office.
• Shred copies of your tax return, drafts or calculation sheets you no longer need.
• Respond to all mail from the IRS as soon as possible.
• Know the IRS won’t contact you by email, text or social media. If the IRS needs information, it will first contact you by mail.
• Get recommendations and check out free BBB Business Reviews of tax preparers before you hand over personal information. BBB can also provide a list ofBBB Accredited tax preparers.
• If your SSN has been compromised, contact the IRS ID Theft Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490.
• Check your credit report at least once a year for free at annualcreditreport.com to make sure no other accounts have been opened in your name.

What if you are a victim? Tax identity theft victims typically find out about the crime when they get a letter from the IRS saying that more than one tax return was filed in the their name, or IRS records show they received wages from an employer they don’t know. If you get a letter like this, don’t panic. Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.

More information about tax identity theft is available from the FTC at ftc.gov/idtheft and the IRS at irs.gov/identitytheft.

For more advice you can trust, start with bbb.org.

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