Tax Seminar #3 – December 3 2012

Identity Theft
1. Example scenarios:
a. Refund-related crime: Identity thief uses stolen SSN to file forged tax return and
obtain refund early in the filing season.
b. Employment-related crime: Identity thief uses a stolen SSN to obtain employment
2. Refer to Publication 4535.
3. Form 14039 to report an problem Send in this form with an original return.
4. Identity Protection Specialized Unit (IPSU) is central point of contact:
1-800-908-4490
Within 90 days from the date that the Form 14039 has been received by the IRS you will
receive a notice confirming the receipt and listing the next step. It is also possible that you
will receive a Letter 31C from the IRS stating that two tax returns were filed for the same
period of time and requesting information from you. Note: the processing time start to finish
will take 12-16 weeks and it is important to keep following up with them and keep notes.
5. The IRS will place an Identity Theft Indicator” on your account for 3 years for any returns
of W-2s filed with your name and social security number.
6. File a police report.
7. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 877-438-4338; www.ftc.gov) and give them
the police report number. The FTC will place a fraud alert for the next 90 days under the
name and social security number.
8. Contact Social Security Administration (800-772-1213; www.ssa.gov).
9. Contact 1 of 3 major credit bureaus (Equifax for example is 800-525-6285;
www.equifax.com) and request a free credit report.
10. You may need to step in and ask the Taxpayer Advocate (1-877-777-4778) to become
involved. The TA will only get involved, however, if the taxpayer is experiencing a hardship
(i.e. eviction notice, disconnect notice, repossession of car, lack of refund impacting finances
during divorce with single income, etc.)
11. New IRS techniques; the IRS may issue you a new IP-Pin.
Use of new IP-Pin 6 digit number assigned to taxpayers who
- were identified as ID theft victims
- submitted required documentation
- had their account issues resolved
- filed a tax return for tax year 2010
This is a NEW pin in addition to any others including the electronic signature ‘self-select’
PIN, which allows legitimate return to bypass ID theft filters in IRS, prevents processing
fraudulent returns and avoids delays. This IP PIN is reissued each year to those assigned for
additional security. Not everyone may get one, though, only those the IRS deems highestrisk.
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