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AARP AARP States South Dakota Scams & Fraud

Don’t Let Tax ID Theft Trip up Your Refund

As part of National Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and AARP Foundation Tax-Aide are joining forces with federal agencies to highlight the dangers of tax identity theft and recovery steps for victims.

How It Works:  

Tax identity theft occurs when someone steals your personal information for a fraudulent refund or to earn wages.  It can involve:

  • Filing a tax return using another person’s Social Security number
  • Claiming someone else’s children as dependents
  • Claiming a tax refund using a deceased taxpayer’s information

What Are The Signs?   

  • Your Social Security number is lost, stolen or compromised
  • Your tax refund is delayed
  • You receive a notice from the IRS stating it has received a duplicate tax return filing, you have unreported income, or you and somebody else are claiming the same dependents

What You Should Do: 

To avoid becoming a victim of tax identity theft:

  • Submit your tax return as early in the tax season as possible
  • Be careful what you share – don’t give out your personal information unless you know who is asking and why, and don’t be shy about refusing!
  • Dispose of sensitive information safely – shred it with a micro-cut shredder. AARP SD is hosting free shred events across the state throughout the month of April. Watch for these events on our state events calendar.
  • Know your tax preparer

Check the status of your refund after filing at www.irs.gov/refunds. If you think someone filed a fraudulent refund with your information, call the IRS Identity Theft line at 800-908-4490. To learn more, visit www.ftc.gov/taxidtheft.