Before identity theft happens safeguard your information.
The IRS does not initiate communication with taxpayers through e-mail.
Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.
Generally, identity thieves use their victim’s personal data to steal financial accounts and run up charges on their existing credit cards. However, the damage does not stop there. Identity thieves can also cause havoc with their victim’s tax records.
If you receive a notice or letter in the mail from the IRS that leads you to believe someone may have used your Social Security Number fraudulently, please respond immediately to the name, address, and/or number printed on the IRS notice.
Be alert to possible identity theft if the IRS issued notice or letter:
- states more than one tax return was filed for you, or
- indicates you received wages from an employer unknown to you.
Additional IRS.gov resources
If your Social Security Number is stolen it may be used by an undocumented worker or other individual to get a job. That person’s employer would report income earned to the IRS using your Social Security Number, making it appear that you did not report all of your income on your tax return.
An identity thief might also use your Social Security Number to file a tax return in order to receive a refund. If the thief files the tax return before you do, the IRS will believe that you already filed and received your refund.
Remember:
The IRS does not initiate communication with taxpayers through e-mail.
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