By: Amanda Wilson
Tax identity theft is a big issue right now, with people only discovering that they are victims when they go to file their tax return with the IRS. Instead of having their returns accepted, these people find themselves having their returns rejected by the IRS becuase an identity thief has already filed a fraudulent return (and received a huge refund check). The next year will be a nightmare of frustration and red tape as they try to resolve the issue with the IRS.
I am happy to share with you that some help combatting this issue is now available to residents of Florida, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. If you filed a tax return last year as a resident of one of these states, the IRS is offering you another layer of fraud protection. You can go the IRS website and apply for an “identity protection personal identification number”. Once received, this must be included on your federal returns. This will prevent identity thieves from successfully filing a tax return (and obtaining a refund) even if the thieves have your social security number. Please take a few minutes and protect yourself from one of the largest growing areas of identity theft!
