Skip to main content
United States flag An official website of the United States government
Alerts

Alerts

Español
MyCreditUnion.gov
Credit Union Locator | COVID-19 (opens new window)
Menu
Credit Union Locator | Español | COVID-19 (opens new window)

Main navigation

  • Consumer Assistance Center
    • Find An Answer
    • Complaint Process
    • Forms
    • Portal Log-in (opens new window)
    • Contact Us
    • Fraud Prevention Center
      • Fraud Alerts
      • Fraud Resources
      • Frauds & Scams
      • Identity Theft
      • Online Security
    • Information for Credit Union Members in Areas Affected by Hurricanes
  • Share Insurance
    • Share Insurance Estimator
    • Share Insurance Publications
    • Share Insurance Videos
  • About Credit Unions
    • How is a Credit Union Different than a Bank?
    • Credit Union & Bank Interest Rate Comparison
    • Credit Union Products & Services
      • Checking & Credit Cards
      • Saving & Investing
      • Consumer Loans
      • Mortgages & Home Ownership
      • Direct Deposits & Withdrawals
      • Money Transfers
      • Online & Mobile Banking
      • Mobile Payments & Mobile Wallets
    • Find, Join or Start a Credit Union
    • Credit Unions in Schools
    • Low Income Credit Unions
    • Minority Depository Institutions
    • Historical Timeline of Credit Unions
      • History of NCUA Video
    • Credit Union Locator
    • When a Credit Union Closes
  • Life Events
    • Planning for the Unexpected
    • Understanding Your Benefits
    • Car Buying & Ownership
      • Buying a Car
      • Buying a Used Car (opens new window)
      • Leasing a Car
      • Car Shopping Resources
      • Why Reading Disclosures is Important
    • Going to College
      • Cost of Education
      • Student Life
    • Consumer Loans
      • Payday Loans
      • Payday Loan Alternatives
      • Personal Loans: Secured vs. Unsecured
      • Home Equity Loans & Lines of Credit
      • Credit Reports & Credit Scores
      • Understand Your Credit Card Statement
      • Credit & Your Consumer Rights (opens new window)
      • Why Reading Disclosures is Important
      • Rights for Servicemembers & their Dependents
      • Consumer Loan Calculators
      • Consumer Loan FAQs
    • Home Ownership
      • Finding the Right Home
      • Buying a Home
      • Owning a Home
    • Checking & Credit Cards
      • Checking
      • Credit Cards
      • Electronic Banking
      • Protecting Your Financial Information
    • Dealing With Debt
      • Debt Consolidation Options
      • Paying Off Credit Cards
      • Credit Counseling & Debt Relief Services
      • Dealing With Debt Collectors
      • Debt Settlement & Debt Elimination Scams
    • Saving & Investing
      • Start Your Savings
      • Power of Dividends
      • 54 Ways to Save (opens new window)
      • Youth Savings Infographic (opens new window)
      • Planning for the Unexpected
      • Introduction to Investing (opens new window)
      • Investment Fraud Resources
    • Retirement
      • Retirement Planning
      • Types of Retirement Plans (opens new window)
      • Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) (opens new window)
      • Social Security Benefits
      • Delayed Retirement & Second Careers
      • Civil Service Retirement (opens new window)
      • Avoiding Retirement Fraud (opens new window)
      • Retirement Estimator (opens new window)
    • Aging & Managing Finances
      • Reverse Mortgages
      • Long Term Care
      • Prepaid Funerals
      • Funeral Services
      • Scams Targeting Older Adults
      • Preventing Elder Financial Abuse
      • Aging & Financial Decline: Early Warning Signs
      • Elder Abuse Roadmap: Financial (opens new window)
  • Financial Resources
    • Activities & Apps
      • Hit the Road
      • World of Cents
      • Test Your Money Memory
    • Brochures & Publications
    • Calculators
    • Calendar of Events
      • Military Saves Month
      • America Saves Week
      • Federal Credit Union Act
      • Earned Income Tax Credit
      • Financial Spring Cleaning
      • Make a Difference Day
      • Financial Capability Month
      • Back to School
      • Tax Day
      • Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week
    • Servicemembers
      • Financial Readiness Resources
      • Financial Assistance
      • Rights for Servicemembers & their Dependents
    • Glossary
    • Graphics (opens new window)
    • Lesson Plans & Resources
    • Money 101
      • History of United States Currency
      • Understanding the Security Features of Money (opens new window)
      • What to Do if You Receive Counterfeit Money
      • Facts About United States Coins & Currency
    • Personal Finance Worksheets
      • Auto Loan Worksheet
      • Personal Budgeting Worksheet
    • Videos & Webinars

Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

Banner

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. > Financial Resources
  3. > Calendar of Events
  4. > Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week
Print
Share Facebook (opens new window) Twitter (opens new window)
Open/Close Share Panel
Email (opens new window) Pinterest (opens new window)

Taking Charge infographic - see text

Do you know the warning signs that an identity thief is using your Social Security number?

FTC's Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week is a perfect time for consumers just like you to learn what identity theft is and how to protect yourself.

What is Identity Theft?  

Any type of identity theft can disrupt your finances, credit history, and reputation, and take time, money, and patience to resolve. Often, identity thieves will use a Social Security number, mother's maiden name, date of birth or account number to open fraudulent new credit card accounts, charge existing credit card accounts, write share drafts, open share accounts, or obtain new loans.

You may already know that identity theft is a serious crime.  You take steps to protect your personal information by not opening unrecognized emails and shredding important documents.  But, do you know how to recognize and prevent from becoming a victim of tax identity theft?

Tax identity thieves may use your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. If the IRS (opens new window) if sends you a notice saying their records show:

  • You were paid by an employer you don’t know, or
  • More than one tax return was filed using your Social Security number, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.

What Steps Can You Take To Prevent Tax Identity Theft?

  1. Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) from the IRS.
    What's an IP PIN? An IP PIN is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers that helps prevent the misuse of your Social Security number on fraudulent federal income tax returns. You can’t use the IP PIN as your e-file signature PIN.  You can learn more about an IP PIN from the IRS (opens new window).
  2. Check your mail and credit union account statements every month. 
    If you discover an account you did not open, balance discrepancy, or a purchase you did not make, contact the financial institution or creditor immediately to report the activity.
  3. Monitor your credit reports on a regular basis.
    Do you really know what’s on your credit report?  Why it matters?  Or, how to obtain your three free credit reports annually? You can find answers to these questions and more about credit reports and credit scores in NCUA’s Credit Reports and Credit Scores learning center.
  4. Talk to your credit union about the identity theft resources they may offer.
    Most credit unions offer or partner with companies that offer services and materials to help their members safeguard their accounts.

Uncovering Tax-Related Identity Theft 

The IRS uses your Social Security Number (SSN) to make sure your filing is accurate and complete, and that you get any refund you are due. Identity theft can affect how your tax return is processed. An unexpected notice or letter from the IRS could alert you that someone else is using your SSN; however, the IRS doesn't start contact with a taxpayer by sending an email, text or social media message that asks for personal or financial information. If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead, forward it to phishing@irs.gov.

If someone uses your SSN to file for a tax refund before you do, the IRS might think you already filed and got your refund. When you file your return later, IRS records will show the first filing and refund, and you’ll get a notice or letter from the IRS saying more than one return was filed for you.

If someone uses your SSN to get a job, the employer may report that person’s income to the IRS using your SSN. When you file your tax return, you won’t include those earnings. IRS records will show you failed to report all your income. The agency will send you a notice or letter saying you got wages but didn’t report them. The IRS doesn’t know those wages were reported by an employer you don’t know.

Dealing With Tax-Related Identity Theft 

If you think someone used your SSN for a tax refund or a job — or the IRS sends you a notice or letter indicating a problem — contact the IRS immediately. Specialists will work with you to get your tax return filed, get you any refund you are due, and protect your IRS account from identity thieves in the future.

CONTACT THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE:

IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490.

UPDATE YOUR FILES: 

  • Record the dates you made calls or sent letters.
  • Keep copies of letters in your files.
     

Related Resources

  • Tax Identity Theft
  • IRS.gov (opens new window)
  • IRS Forms and Publications (opens new window)
  • Credit Reports & Credit Scores
  • Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft (opens new window)
Last updated on 08/14/18
My Life. My Money. My Future.
YouTube (opens new window) Facebook (opens new window) Twitter (opens new window) LinkedIn (opens new window)
NCUA Logo

Official website of the
National Credit Union Administration

(opens new window)

Footer Menu

  • About NCUA (opens new window)
  • Open Government (opens new window)
  • Contact Us
  • USA.gov (opens new window)
  • Site map
  • Office of Consumer Financial Protection
  • Freedom of Information Act (opens new window)
  • Privacy Policy (opens new window)
  • Accessibility (opens new window)
Close popup