Each year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes a list of scams that peak during filing season. Tax fraud through the use of identity theft tops this IRS list of scams.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your name, Social Security Number, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. In many cases, an identity thief uses a legitimate taxpayer’s identity to fraudulently file a tax return and claim a refund.

To avoid becoming victim of this tax return filing scam, here are actions you can take:

• If you have not already filed your tax return, you can check to ensure that there is no record of your return by visiting this IRS website.
• If you find that the IRS has a record of a tax return that you or your tax preparer did not file, you should immediately complete an Identity Theft Affidavit and send it to the IRS.
• In addition, contact daniel-schropp@uiowa.edu at UI Payroll and inform him of this issue.
• The IRS has a special section on IRS.gov dedicated to identity theft issues, including YouTube videos, tips for taxpayers and an assistance guide. For victims, the information includes how to contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit. For other taxpayers, there are tips on how taxpayers can protect themselves against identity theft.
• Taxpayers who believe they are at risk of identity theft due to lost or stolen personal information should contact the IRS immediately, so the agency can take action to secure their tax account. Taxpayers can call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490.
• Do not share your Social Security Number (SSN) with anyone and do not provide your SSN to anyone through email.
• If you have an identity theft protection service, such as LifeLock or Debix, check with them to ensure that your financial and other information has not been accessed.