Every second US resident after hacking Equifax may have problems with the IRS: what to do

Фото: Depositphotos

In September, one of the largest hacks in US history took place - a rating agency Equifax reported that 143 data of millions of people, including their social security numbers, were stolen. In essence, this means that virtually every second inhabitant of America is at risk.

The first reaction in the media was the dissemination of information about credit history protectionbut, unfortunately, this theft has no less serious consequences for every US taxpayer - his or her data can be used to file false tax returns with unreasonable returns. Moreover, the system is designed so that the return goes to the fraudster’s bank account, which was opened specifically for this operation and closed immediately after receiving the return, so it’s very difficult to track the “ends”.

The social security number is given once for a lifetime, so if your data is already in the hands of fraudsters, then you can become the person on whose behalf they will try to get a tax refund in any of the following years after the hacking. To protect yourself from this situation, you should take the following steps:

1. Register a personal account with the IRS and regularly track information there. If you see an incomprehensible refund or other incomprehensible information, be sure to contact the IRS. If you are already registered with the IRS, then all information can be found by link. You can also register there.
2. If you know that your data has been stolen and you see suspicious activity on your personal account with the IRS, then urgently fill out and submit the form IRS Form 14039. The form is completed on paper and mailed to the IRS along with your current tax return.
3. File a complaint with Federal Trade Commission for this link. In the same place, by reference, there are scenarios of behavior in different situations, if your data has been stolen. Carefully read what you are recommended to do, and immediately, without delay, make the steps described on the site.

Фото: Depositphotos

Suppose your tax return has already been rejected with a note that it is duplicate. Then your actions should be as follows:

1. Print and sign your tax return. Do not forget to attach all the necessary applications.
2. Complete, print and sign the IRS form Form 14039.
3. Send the entire package of documents to the IRS. The address where to send the declaration can be found in the instructions for the form 1040.
4. You should receive a response from the IRS - an acknowledgment letter. From this point on, you are aware that the IRS has begun an investigation into your situation.
5. Investigation will be engaged Identity Theft Victim Assistance (IDTVA), and this process takes from 120 days and more.
6. In special cases, you will be included in Identity Protection PIN program and annually receive a special PIN, which will need to be specified when submitting the declaration.

Sometimes the IRS itself identifies the facts of identity theft and therefore sends a letter to the taxpayer in the form of 4883C. You have 30 days to prove your identity according to the form described in the letter. Once you confirm your identity, you may be asked to submit a paper declaration again.

I draw your attention that the IRS communicates with taxpayers only in written form (except for cases of audit and the taxpayer appeals to the IRS by phone) by sending letters to the taxpayer’s address indicated in his or her declaration - it is therefore important to always indicate the current address. The IRS does not send e-mails, does not make phone calls, etc.

Hacking systems that store personal information occur annually, so attention to the state of your personal tax account with the IRS should not be limited to one year. Do not forget to regularly check all information and respond in time to any suspicious records or requests addressed to you from the IRS in connection with establishing your identity.

Фото: Depositphotos

This material does not constitute written tax advice or legal advice. Any information from this material is not created for use by the taxpayer in order to avoid any sanctions imposed on the taxpayer, and also can not be the basis for consultation by third parties. Please always consult a professional service before taking any action based on the information from this material. Keep in mind that information may be outdated at the time of reading, and we do not undertake to guarantee the updating of information. Copyright www.Solven.pro. Xnumx

Original article published on the site Solven.pro and reprinted with permission of the author.

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