Tax Resolution Services, Co.®
Identity fraud is on the rise. It’s clear these identity thieves are managing to stay one step ahead of the IRS. Consumers need to protect themselves before it happens or if they find themselves a victim of theft to quickly take action
Encino, CA (PRWEB) September 24, 2012
Identity theft issues have grown significantly during this electronic age. These thefts are of concern not only to the public but to the IRS as well. The IRS has created a new division to deal with the problem. In 2011 alone, over 1.3 million taxpayers were affected by Identity Theft. It is mute-billion dollar problem. This type of crime has extremely negative financial impacts on the lives of those it affects. Tax Resolution Services, Co. advises the importance of taking a proactive stance and to protect oneself from the repercussions of identity theft and tax scams.
A taxpayer knows that they’ve been a victim of identity theft, when they receive a letter from the IRS notifying them that they have already filed their tax return and that a refund was issued, just not to “them”. In the most recent episode of Rozbruch’s television program Taxman, Bob “Sully” Sullivan, host of the Big Biz radio show, revealed that he was recently a victim of tax identity theft and asked about what to do next. Michael Rozbruch aka the Taxman said, "Identity fraud is on the rise. The IRS has implemented an entire division to handle tax related identity theft with the creation of the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit. It’s clear these identity thieves are managing to stay one step ahead of the IRS. Consumers need to protect themselves before it happens or if they find themselves a victim of theft to quickly take action.”
For those victimized by tax identity fraud, Rozbruch and his Tax Team advize specific remedies. First, contact the IRS’s Taxpayer Advocate Service, which is an independent division within the IRS, to let them know you’ve been a victim of identity theft. The IRS should put a “Collection Hold” on your account (to prevent levy’s/seizures of property) and open up an identity theft case in their office. Second, file Form 14039 with the IRS to protect your account from further theft. Often a clue of fraudulent behavior is when the imposter files the tax return early in the tax filing season (generally in January), as many taxpayers do not even have their W-2 information until this time.
Rozbruch next recommends that victims of tax identity fraud apply for a new Personal Tax Identification Number to use for the next few years in place of their Social Security Number when filing future income tax returns. When filing a police report, be sure to turn in a copy of the report to the IRS who will then give the report to their criminal investigation division and will open a case against the person who committed the fraud. While the Justice Department’s Tax Division, local U.S. Attorneys’ offices and local law enforcement are all beginning to work together to tackle identity theft, Michael Rozbruch says “In the case of our client, Mr. Sullivan had contacted the IRS to ask a general tax related question only to discover to his shock that his tax return had already been filed using his social security number and the refund was on its way to a different address. Unfortunately the professionals at Tax Resolution Services, Co., sees cases like Bob Sullivan’s every day.”
The best way taxpayers can protect themselves against tax identity theft or to resolve a tax scam is to contact the IRS immediately and also seek the assistance from a Certified Tax Resolution Specialist specifically trained in tax problem resolution. For more expert tax relief tips from the Host of Taxman, visit Michael Rozbruch's blog at http://www.taxresolution.com/blog.
About Tax Resolution Services, Co. (TRS)
The tax attorneys, CPAs, EAs, and tax relief professionals at Tax Resolution Services, Co., have successfully settled thousands of cases over the past 14 years, and are committed to providing affordable, competitive solutions to businesses and individuals. Got IRS stress? Contact TRS. To find out how Tax Resolution Services, Co. can help, or to receive a free tax problem consultation, visit TaxResolution.com or call (888) 851-5894.
