AARP Eye Center
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.