If your identity is stolen, your finances can quickly become a nightmare. A less obvious problem is the effect identity theft can have on your taxes.
Identity Theft
Generally, thieves steal your personal data for the purpose of running up credit card charges or opening and abusing new accounts. A developing trend in the identity theft field concerns schemes impacting your taxes.
Selling Social Security Numbers
Identity thieves have created a new line of business ? selling your social security number. Who would want to buy it? The list is surprising long, but undocumented workers, individuals with bad credit and people trying to obtain a new identity lead the list. This can create a huge problem for you since any income paid to those individuals is reported to the IRS as being paid to you. This results in the IRS having inflated income numbers and, often, audits when you "under report" your income.
With the creation of the Real ID Act, better known as the National ID Card, things will only get worse. Under the Act, all workers will be required to submit social security numbers to obtain jobs. With our leaky borders, there will be a high demand for your social security number.
False Tax Filings
It doesn't take much to file a tax return. What's to stop an identity thief from filing one under your name to generate a refund? Nothing. To generate the maximum refund, you can be all kinds of frivolous deductions will be claimed. After all, it will be you that has to attend the audit.
What Can I Do?
If you receive a notice from the IRS that leads you to believe someone may have used your Social Security Number fraudulently, you should notify the IRS immediately. Indicators can be found in notices from the IRS that state:
1. More than one tax return for you was filed, or
2. IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.
Don't hesitate or be nervous about contacting the IRS. The agency knows this is a growing problem and not an "opportunity" to pound on taxpayers.
Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses by finding overlooked tax deductions and credits through a free tax return review.
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..No one likes paying tax. Everyone understands that tax is... Read More
Emerging Legal issues of Tax compliance of e-business Self-assessment system... Read More
As a gentleman was leaving my class recently, he wanted... Read More
The end of tax filing extensions is quickly approaching. What... Read More
If you are environmentally conscious and purchase a 2005 Ford... Read More
In the latest Star Wars episode, the evil empire executes... Read More
Managing a business small, medium or big requires you to... Read More
Excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space Age... Read More
You're at your office, or home, and the doorbell rings... Read More
One way to maximize your business profits is by reducing... Read More
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that it costs nearly... Read More
If your business has employees, you must pay employment taxes.... Read More
Let's assume that you would like to begin saving for... Read More
Strategic planning throughout the year results in a minimal tax... Read More
Millions of people file tax return extensions every year. The... Read More
April 15 - The most dreaded day of the year... Read More
As an employer, you must pay employment taxes if you... Read More
Whether helping the kids with a down payment on their... Read More
"Depreciation." For business owners, this word is the one most... Read More
If you paid someone to care for a child so... Read More
In elementary school, kids come up with creative excuses why... Read More
Do you realize that some tax forms ask you to... Read More
Own residential rental properties? This article discusses how income from... Read More
Haven't done your taxes yet? No problem. Now there is... Read More
Your days as an entrepreneur and businessperson are consumed with... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..Why a Corporation Helps Save You TaxesThe Tax Rates (Notice... Read More
How about a Tax Tip?As we all know Taxes are... Read More
Someone once said, 'the best way to calculate your taxes... Read More
"Settle for Pennies on the Dollar! IRS debts settled for... Read More
Are you in the middle of a disagreement with the... Read More
Strategic planning throughout the year results in a minimal tax... Read More
Just image, you are a small manufacturing company, business has... Read More
IRS Tax forms can be confusing.Am I a 1099 or... Read More
Tilting the Tax Laws in Your Favor.In order to accelerate... Read More
If you are a Small Business Owner or Self-Employed Person,... Read More
To tax or not to tax - this question could... Read More
How Home-Based Businesses Can Avoid Giving Uncle Sam... Read More
As a small business owner, it's wise to familiarize yourself... Read More
Adding Your First Additional Stream of IncomeMost new wealth builders... Read More
Donating your used car to charity is a win-win situation;... Read More
The means and types of businesses have transformed with advent... Read More
On June 3, 2005, the IRS released guidance on charitable... Read More
Taxpayers have two easy and convenient options for getting copies... Read More
April 15 - The most dreaded day of the year... Read More
One of the most important, but least understood or appreciated... Read More
"Depreciation." For business owners, this word is the one most... Read More
The end of tax filing extensions is quickly approaching. What... Read More
Small Businesses Filing Amended Federal Tax Returns to... Read More
Statistics for IndividualsUnfortunately, the IRS increased its rate of auditing... Read More
If your identity is stolen, your finances can quickly become... Read More
Tax |