Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 22, 2014 Protect yourself from taxpayer identify theft Taxpayer identify theft continues to increase in the U.S. In 2012, there were 1.8 million incidents of identity theft and fraudulent tax refunds, creating a $5 billion problem, according to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. In the first half of 2013, the number of tax- related identity thefts had already surpassed the 2012 figure. Tax-related identity theft occurs when someone intentionally uses the personal information of another person to file a false tax return with the intention of obtaining an unauthorized refund. Victims are left deal- ing with the aftermath, which can be emo- tionally draining as they work for years to untangle the financial nightmare. Taxpay- ers should know how to protect themselves and what to do if they become a victim. Spotting taxpayer identity theft. How do you know if you have been a victim of taxpayer identity theft? Usually, an identity thief uses a legitimate taxpayer’s identity to file a false tax return. The typical method is to use a stolen Social Security number early in the filing season to file a forged return and attempt to collect a fraudulent refund. Taxpayers may be unaware this has even happened until they try to file their legiti- mate return later in the filing season and receive a message that a return has already been filed with that SSN. Protecting your information. The Inter- nal Revenue Service offers the following tips to minimize the chance of ID theft: The IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers by e-mail or social media to request personal or financial information. The IRS does not send e-mails stating you are being electronically audited or that you are getting a refund. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as text messages and social media. If you receive a scam e-mail claiming to be from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs. gov. Identity thieves’ access personal infor- mation by many different means, including stealing a wallet or purse; posing as some- one who needs your personal information through an unsolicited phone call, e-mail, or mailing; looking through your trash for personal information; and accessing infor- mation you provide to an unsecured Inter- net site. If you discover a website that claims to be the IRS, but does not begin with “www. irs.gov,” forward that link to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. To learn how to identify a secure website, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website. If your SSN is stolen, another individ- ual may use it to get a job. That person’s employer may report income earned by him or her to the IRS using your SSN, making it appear you did not report all of your income on your tax return. If this occurs, contact the IRS to show the income is not yours. After the IRS authenticates who you are, your tax record will be updated to reflect only your information. The IRS will use this informa- tion to minimize future occurrences. Your identity may have been stolen if a letter from the IRS indicates more than one tax return was filed for you, or the letter states you received wages from an employer you don’t know. If you receive such a letter from the IRS, leading you to believe your identity has been stolen, respond immedi- ately to the name, address, or phone number on the IRS notice. If you believe the notice is not from the IRS, contact the IRS to determine if the letter is a legitimate IRS notice. If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft, but you believe you may be at risk due to a lost wallet or questionable credit card activity or credit report, you must provide the IRS with proof of your identity. Submit a copy of your valid government-issued identification, such as a Social Security card, driver’s license, or passport, along with a copy of a police report and/or a completed IRS Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, by faxing to the IRS at 855-807-5720. You can also contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. Show your Social Security card to your employer when you start a job or to your financial institution for tax reporting pur- poses. Do not routinely carry your card or other documents that display your SSN, and don’t give out your SSN simply because someone asks for it. (continued on next page)