Health & Fitness
Tax Day and Identity Theft Go Hand in Hand
There have been thousands of cases where an individual has gone to file their taxes, only to find that someone else has already filed taxes under their name and pocketed the refund.
Today is "Tax Day," which brings up the discussion of taxes and identity theft.
There have been thousands of cases throughout our state where an individual has gone to file their taxes, only to find that someone else has already filed taxes under their name and pocketed the refund. It's becoming a common crime and one that is easy to commit if the crook knows just a few things about you.
After filing, make sure to track your refund or filing status with the IRS online.
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If you think someone has had a false tax return filed in your name, contact your local police department and report the theft of your identity. Then, follow up with a call to the Identity Theft Department at the IRS at 1-800-908-4490.
In the case of tax return fraud, beware of notices you might receive from the IRS concerning the filing status of minor children (who weren't required to file) and deceased relatives. Either of these notices might indicate someone trying to file on their behalf. If in doubt, call the IRS.
Find out what's happening in Greenfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The most important tip regarding tax return fraud and identity theft is to closely monitor your finances and credit report. Federal law requires credit bureaus to provide you with a free copy of your credit report every year. The credit bureaus have created an easy to use website to access all three credit reports for free.
