A A

When a stranger files for your refund

Consumer Reports Money Adviser: March 2013

Identity theft has been the top consumer complaint for many years, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Almost 25 percent of ID-theft complaints relate to tax- or wage-related fraud. In the tax arena, thieves steal Social Security numbers, forge tax returns, and claim fraudulent refunds early in the tax season.

You may have been a victim of identity theft if you get an IRS notice saying that more than one federal tax return has been filed in your name. Alternatively, the agency might say that you have a balance due, a refund offset, or a collections against you in a year you didn’t file a return. Another red flag is an IRS letter showing income from an employer you don’t know.

If you suspect fraud, respond immediately to the name and number on the correspondence. You’ll also have to fill out the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039. Alert the agency if you’ve recently had an experience that could result in identity theft, such as a lost or stolen purse or wallet. The toll-free number for the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit is (800) 908-4490.

E-mail Newsletters

FREE e-mail Newsletters!
Choose from safety, health, cars, and more!

Already signed-up?
Manage your newsletters here too.

Money News

Don't be scammed into paying for a copy of your property deed

If you're a homeowner, don't be bamboozled into paying big bucks for a copy of your property deed. Scammers have been sending solicitations from companies using official-sounding names, such as "...

That feel-good credit score may still disappoint

If you ever failed to pay a bill that was subsequently sent to a collection agency, it can still hurt you even if you pay it off. That's because any blemish can stay on your credit report for up ...

Traveling abroad? Save money changing money

It's one thing to blow the bank on a gourmet dinner at a Paris restaurant, quite another to pay more than you need to for it because of fees or a bad exchange rate. So it will come as good...

Don't let your frequent-flyer miles depart without you

After you've racked up all those frequent-flyer miles, the last thing you want to do is lose them. But that's what will happen with most frequent-flyer plans when you don't use the miles within 1...

Leaving underemployment, with lessons learned

When the Consumer Reports Index reported recently that Americans are feeling significantly better about their personal finances, I could definitely agree. My husband recently found a new job afte...

Connect

Discuss products

and safety with
subscribers and fans

Follow us on:

Mobile

Get Ratings on the go and compare
while you shop

Learn more