In an effort to highlight national Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week, California Attorney General Kamala Harris has released tips to residents beginning to compile and file their tax returns.
She urged people not to open any email or text message that claims to be from the IRS or the state Franchise Tax Board (FTB). The IRS or FTB will never initiate contact via email or text.
A strong password for electronic filing and saving the e-file to an outside device just before deleting it off the hard drive also can help keep information secure while allowing the taxpayer to access it later if the need arises.
The Federal Trade Commission declared Jan. 13-17 to be Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week.
Thieves can use information to file returns in someone’s name to obtain their refund, use a stolen Social Security number for employment or pretend to be the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to obtain personal information.
Signs a taxpayer’s identity has been stolen can come from letters from the IRS or FTB. There may be a problem if a letter states more than one tax return was filed under one name, a balance is due, collection actions were taken for a year in which the taxpayer did not need to file a return, or an employer the taxpayer never worked for sent wages.
Californians are advised to immediately contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit or the FTB’s ID Theft Resolution Coordinator if such a letter is received.
The IRS, FTB, California Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission have web pages detailing tax identity theft, along with more tips about how to protect personal information in tax returns.
