The IRS reported successfully blocking over 900,000 fraudulently filed tax refunds from being distributed last year, which would have totaled $6.5 billion being paid to scammers. But, over 1.5 million possible fraudulent tax returns were processed and have paid out an estimated $5.2 billion in tax refunds.
How do you know if you have become a victim?
If you receive a real letter from the IRS and it states any of the following notices, you may have been an identity theft victim:
- More than one tax return for you was filed for you in a certain year
- You have a balance due, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return, or
- IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.
If you become a victim of identity theft, you should report it to the IRS right away. You can forward suspicious emails to phishing@irs.gov and visit the US Federal Trade Commission’s website for identity theft at www.OnGuardOnline.gov for more advice. Be sure to pay attention to whom sends you emails to keep yourself safe from identity theft next tax season!