Apr 13, 2008

3 Signs You May be a Victim of Tax-Related Fraud

The following is a guest post from ID theft expert Brian Lapidus, chief operating officer of Kroll’s Fraud Solutions.

3 SIGNS YOU MAY BE A VICTIM OF TAX-RELATED FRAUD

1. You are unable to file your return electronically, because a prior return included your SSN.

Take Action:
Submit your return by paper and include proof of SSN ownership (i.e., a registered letter from the Social Security Administration).
2. You have received a W2 or 1099 form from a company with whom you have never been employed nor had a financial relationship.

Take action:
Contact the company in question by phone, with a follow-up letter, to request a corrected W2 or 1099, maintaining call notes and copies of all related documentation. If receipt of document was not due to an error by reporting company, file a police report.

Maintain records until you receive a notice from the IRS.
3. You received a notice from the IRS advising you of unclaimed wages or income.

Take action:
Contact the assigned IRS agent listed on the notification. He/she will work with you to ensure that you are not held liable for any fraud-related or errant wages/earnings.

If you do not notify the IRS of a dispute, the IRS will assume the reporting is accurate. As a result, the wages/income will be processed and the IRS will send you a bill. Continued failure to notify the IRS can result in wage garnishment or tax levies.

Follow all instructions and provide all information or documentation to the assigned IRS agent, as requested.

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