If someone used your name or other identifying information without your consent to file a federal tax return, you may be a victim of identity theft.
Publication 4535, Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance, provides more information on this subject.
The IRS can place an Identity Theft Indicator on your tax account. This indicator remains on your account for three years. The indictor flags any tax return submitted with your SSN (or ITIN).
What you should do...
You should monitor your financial accounts. If you notice any suspicious or unusual activity on any of your financial accounts, you should report it immediately by doing the following:
1. Contact your financial institutions
2. Contact the fraud department of one of the three major credit bureaus:
-Equifax: 800-525-6285: www.equifax.com
-Experian: 888-397-3742: www.experian.com
-TransUnion: 800-680-7289: www.transunion.com
3. Check your credit report every 12 months from AnnualCreditReport.com by:
-Visiting www.annualcreditreport.com
-Calling 877-322-8228
-Mailing the Annual Credit Report Request form to: Annual Credit Report, Request Service, PO Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
4. Report any fraudulent activity to your local police or sheriff's department:
-Make sure the police report lists the accounts with the suspicious activity
-Get a copy of the police report, which is called an "identity theft report" (you are entitled to the report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act)
-Keep the phone number of your investigator
-Give the investigator's information to creditors and others who require verification that you were a victim of identity theft
5. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission:
-By Telephone: Call FTC's Identity Theft Hotline: 1-877-438-4338
-Online: www.ftc.gov/idtheft
-By Mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania NW, Washington, DC, 20580
6. Contact your local Social Security Administration office to ensure your earnings records are accurate.
If you need assistance with a federal tax problem you haven't been able to resolve through the normal channels, you can contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS). TAS is an independent organization in the IRS whose employees assist taxpayers who need help because an IRS action is causing an economic hardship, they haven't been able to resolve a tax problem through normal channels, or they believe an IRS system or procedure is not working as it should. If you believe you are eligible for TAS Assistance, call 1-877-777-4778.