What To Do When You're a Victim of Tax ID Fraud

Filing taxes can be a stressful experience, and the last thing you want is to go through the process and find out someone has falsely filed under your social security or tax ID number. Here are some steps you should take if you ever find yourself in this unfortunate situation:

Inform the IRS & Credit Bureaus

While there are many entities to inform when your identity has been compromised, the best first step is to visit identitytheft.gov to inform the IRS. Doing this will:

• Inform the FTC and file a report to them

• File your IRS Identity Theft Affidavit

• Let you know what your next steps should be using their personal recovery plan

Alternatively, you can reach the IRS by phone at 1-800-829-1040.

You’ll also want to place a freeze and fraud alert on your credit report. This will prevent you or others with access to your sensitive information from taking out lines of credit on your behalf. To place a freeze and fraud alert on your credit report, contact each of the three credit bureaus. For more information, click here.

Print and Mail In Your Taxes

If you filed digitally and were rejected, you’ll be able to print out your forms, such as your W-2 and 1099, and mail them in with your filled-out Identity Theft Affidavit, or form 14039. To see where you should mail your forms, check here.

Protect Yourself In the Future

To protect your identity and sensitive information in the future, it’s important to take steps today! Make sure your sensitive documents are stored in a safe place and you only enter sensitive data online when connected to safe and trusted wifi and on secure websites (look for https in the URL if you’re unsure). Additionally, you can request an IP Pin from the IRS, which opts you into a multi-step authorization when you file your taxes.

Pioneer Signature and Premier customers also have access to ID Theft Aid through Pioneer Perks. This service provides identity restoration and internet monitoring of your personal information with access to a US-based certified Resolution Specialist should any of your accounts be compromised.

Remember, the IRS and your financial institution will never contact you by email, text, or social media to request personal or financial information, call you with threats of lawsuits or arrests, or call, email, or text to request your Identity Protection PINs.

Taking these first steps can go a long way to protecting your identity. Speak with a Pioneer representative to learn more about protecting yourself from fraud.

Pioneer and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.