If your identity is stolen, your finances can quickly become a nightmare. A less obvious problem is the effect identity theft can have on your taxes.
Identity Theft
Generally, thieves steal your personal data for the purpose of running up credit card charges or opening and abusing new accounts. A developing trend in the identity theft field concerns schemes impacting your taxes.
Selling Social Security Numbers
Identity thieves have created a new line of business ? selling your social security number. Who would want to buy it? The list is surprising long, but undocumented workers, individuals with bad credit and people trying to obtain a new identity lead the list. This can create a huge problem for you since any income paid to those individuals is reported to the IRS as being paid to you. This results in the IRS having inflated income numbers and, often, audits when you "under report" your income.
With the creation of the Real ID Act, better known as the National ID Card, things will only get worse. Under the Act, all workers will be required to submit social security numbers to obtain jobs. With our leaky borders, there will be a high demand for your social security number.
False Tax Filings
It doesn't take much to file a tax return. What's to stop an identity thief from filing one under your name to generate a refund? Nothing. To generate the maximum refund, you can be all kinds of frivolous deductions will be claimed. After all, it will be you that has to attend the audit.
What Can I Do?
If you receive a notice from the IRS that leads you to believe someone may have used your Social Security Number fraudulently, you should notify the IRS immediately. Indicators can be found in notices from the IRS that state:
1. More than one tax return for you was filed, or
2. IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.
Don't hesitate or be nervous about contacting the IRS. The agency knows this is a growing problem and not an "opportunity" to pound on taxpayers.
Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses by finding overlooked tax deductions and credits through a free tax return review.
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..Deducting Your Auto ExpensesAuto deductions are a very complex topic.... Read More
Over 50% of marriages end in divorce in the United... Read More
It's that time again, the April 15 tax deadline is... Read More
To tax or not to tax - this question could... Read More
In elementary school, kids come up with creative excuses why... Read More
Why a Corporation Helps Save You TaxesThe Tax Rates (Notice... Read More
Whether helping the kids with a down payment on their... Read More
As an employer, you must pay employment taxes if you... Read More
Excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space Age... Read More
Millions of people file tax return extensions every year. The... Read More
The federal tax code is complex. This complexity generally arises... Read More
Yes, the tax season is upon with the first filing... Read More
Background issues of access to recordsTo assess the records at... Read More
It may not be high on the list of wedding... Read More
Own residential rental properties? This article discusses how income from... Read More
As a small business owner, it's wise to familiarize yourself... Read More
Once a year Canadian taxpayers are required, by law, to... Read More
Often people fall on hard times and stop paying on... Read More
Beware of advertisements that claim to settle tax debts for... Read More
Knock-Knock-KnockWho's there?The IRS!The next quarterly payment of estimated income tax... Read More
While accountants are reaching for aspirin, millions of Americans are... Read More
One way to maximize your business profits is by reducing... Read More
Self-assessment relies on taxpayers voluntarily meeting their tax obligations. This... Read More
Anyone who is closely related to an accountant knows that... Read More
Hit a big one? With more and more gambling establishments,... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..One of the most important, but least understood or appreciated... Read More
Millions of people file tax return extensions every year. The... Read More
Own residential rental properties? This article discusses how income from... Read More
April 15th looms in front of most people every year... Read More
Excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space Age... Read More
Hit a big one? With more and more gambling establishments,... Read More
If you have employees, you are responsible for paying a... Read More
If you paid someone to care for a child so... Read More
As your business grows, you are going to need help.... Read More
If your identity is stolen, your finances can quickly become... Read More
Most people look forward to getting their tax return, but... Read More
How Home-Based Businesses Can Avoid Giving Uncle Sam... Read More
"Settle for Pennies on the Dollar! IRS debts settled for... Read More
Knock-Knock-KnockWho's there?The IRS!The next quarterly payment of estimated income tax... Read More
Haven't done your taxes yet? No problem. Now there is... Read More
Tilting the Tax Laws in Your Favor.In order to accelerate... Read More
Import duties continue to be significant elements in the cost... Read More
If you are a Small Business Owner or Self-Employed Person,... Read More
It's a moment every person dreads. You pick up the... Read More
Yes, the tax season is upon with the first filing... Read More
Adding Your First Additional Stream of IncomeMost new wealth builders... Read More
To tax or not to tax - this question could... Read More
One way to maximize your business profits is by reducing... Read More
It's that time again, the April 15 tax deadline is... Read More
Running a home based business reaps many wonderful tax deductions... Read More
Tax |