Tax Identity Theft

If your identity was stolen:

1. Stop interacting with the identity thief. Hang up. Don’t give them money or personal or

financial information. Don’t click links, open attachments or go to websites with odd

URLs. If you did, run antivirus software.

2. Update your Online Account password. Make it complex and unique.

3. Follow IRS instructions from your letter, notice or representative.

4. Report identity theft.

5. Follow recovery steps on IdentityTheft.gov.

6. Get an identity protection (IP) PIN to protect your tax account.

7. Keep records of letters, phone calls and emails.

8. File returns and pay tax as usual.

9. Check with your state tax agency for other steps.

https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams

Identity theft is a serious threat to business, partnership, estate and trust filers. Thieves may

steal sensitive information to file a fraudulent tax return for a refund or to commit other

crimes. All taxpayers must be alert and on guard at all times. It is important to take strong

security measures to protect your business’ and your employees’ data.

Be alert to possible business identity theft if:

• You can’t e-file a return because one was already filed with the same EIN or SSN.

• You get a rejection notice for a routine extension to file request because a return with

duplicate EIN or SSN is already on file.

• You receive an unexpected tax transcript or IRS notice that doesn’t match anything

submitted.

• You receive a Letter 6042C or 5263C from us.

• You don’t receive expected or routine correspondence from the IRS because the

business address has been changed.

• Report suspected identity theft by submitting an affidavit

• Report identity theft on our business help line

• Report a suspected business data security breach

• Report a Form W-2 email scam involving employee data

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/identity-theft-information-for-businesses