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IRS Launches “Taxes. Security. Together.” Campaign

gavel on tax paperwork

Doug Miller – Cincinnati Tax Attorney

In its quest to raise public awareness about the security involved in filing your tax returns and to encourage taxpayers to protect their personal information, the Internal Revenue Service has launched a new campaign called “Taxes. Security. Together.” The IRS offers tips that can help protect you from cybercriminals when dealing with your tax returns. They have listed a few signs that you may be a victim of tax-related identity theft:

  1. You attempt to file your return electronically and it is rejected. After checking that all of your identifying information is correct (and your child whom you claim as a dependent hasn’t filed a return claiming themselves), you should complete Form 14039, Identity Theft Affidavit, attach it to your tax return and mail it to the IRS.
  2. You receive a letter from the IRS asking you to verify whether you sent a return under your name and social security. The IRS will hold suspicious return and sends taxpayers letters asking them for verification. Follow the instructions in the letter immediately.
  3. You receive income information from an employer that is unknown to you.
  4. You receive a tax refund that you did not request. (Yes, it happens.)
  5. You receive a tax transcript of your tax return by mail that you did not request.
  6. You receive a reloadable, pre-paid debit card in the mail that you did not request.

If you have any suspicions that your identity has been stolen you should contact the IRS immediately. You should also contact your financial institutions since cybercriminals may be using the personal information for purposes other than filing fraudulent returns in your name.

Remember, the IRS will only make the first contact with you by U.S. mail. If your first contact with someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service is a telephone call or email, it is it is not the IRS. You can forward IRS-related scam emails to phishing@irs.gov. Report IRS-impersonation telephone calls at www.tigta.gov.

For more information on Security Awareness for Taxpayers, check out IRS Publication 4524.

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Doug Miller is a Partner at the Cincinnati law firm of Donnellon, Donnellon & Miller, and focuses on tax law, wills and estate planning, probate, business formation and planning, real estate law and local government law.

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