Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week is February 3-7. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Tax Identity Theft Awareness webpage will be providing webinars and other resources throughout the week to help educate the public on how to protect against identity theft this tax season. There will be information on important topics such as recognizing governement imposters and recovering from fraud. Some will also highlight special resources for active duty service members, older adults, and small businesses.
Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number (SSN) to file a phony tax return and collect your refund. You may not find out about it until you try to file your tax return and the IRS rejects it as a duplicate filing. While the IRS investigates, your tax refund can be delayed. The misuse of your SSN means you also may be at risk of other types of identity theft.
To get tips on how to protect yourself, and to find an event to join in the coming weeks, please visit the Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week page. You can also check out the following resources for more information.
- FTC’s article on Tax-Related Identity Theft
- Internal Revenue Service’s Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft