6 Signs of Identity Theft

No matter how cautious you are, identity thieves might be able to steal your personal information. When thieves manage to do that, they try to quickly turn that data into cash by filing fraudulent tax returns.

Watch out for these signs that you may be a victim of tax-related identity theft:

1. Your attempt to file your tax return electronically is rejected. You get a message saying a return with a duplicate Social Security number has been filed. First, check to make sure you did not transpose any numbers. Also, make sure one of your dependents, for example, your college-age child, did not file a tax return and claim themselves. If your information is accurate, and you still can’t successfully e-file because of a duplicate SSN, you may be a victim of identity theft. You should complete Form 14039, "Identity Theft Affidavit". Attach it to the top of a paper tax return and send it to the IRS.
2. You receive a letter from the IRS asking you to confirm whether you sent a tax return bearing your name and SSN. The IRS holds suspicious tax returns and sends taxpayers letters to verify them. If you did not file the tax return, follow the instructions in the IRS letter immediately.
3. You receive income information at tax time from an employer unknown to you. Employment-related identity theft involves the use of your SSN by someone, generally an illegal immigrant, for employment purposes only.
4. You receive a tax refund that you did not request. You may receive a paper refund check by mail that the thief intended to have sent elsewhere. If you receive a tax refund you did not request, return it to the IRS. Write “VOID” in the endorsement section, and include a note explaining why you are returning it. If it is a direct deposit refund that you did not request, contact your bank and ask them to return it to the IRS.
5. You receive a tax transcript by mail that you did not request. Identity thieves occasionally attempt to test the validity of the personal data they have selected or they try to use your data to steal even more information. If you receive a tax transcript in the mail and you did not request it, it could be a sign of identity theft, so call the IRS and let them know.
6. You receive a reloadable, pre-paid debit card in the mail that you did not request. Identity thieves sometimes use your name and address to create an account for a reloadable prepaid debit card that they use for various schemes, including tax-related identity theft.