Politics & Government

Tips to Guard Against Tax Identity Thieves

Thieves are gearing up for tax season.

The Federal Trade Commission is warning people that tax identity thieves are gearing up for tax season - with you possibly in their sights.

Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job, and you might not know it's happened until you get a letter from the IRS saying more than one tax return was filed in your name, or IRS records show you have wages from an employer you don't know.

The FTC has these tips to fight tax identity theft:

  • File your tax return early in the tax season, if you can.
  • Use a secure internet connection if you file electronically, or mail your tax return directly from the post office.
  • Shred copies of your tax return, drafts, or calculation sheets you no longer need.
  • Know the IRS won't contact you by email, text, or social media. If the IRS needs information, it will contact you by mail.
  • If your Social Security Number has been compromised, contact the IRS ID Theft Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.
More information about tax identity theft is available from the FTC at ftc.gov/taxidtheft and the IRS atirs.gov/identitytheft.       


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here