Did you receive a letter from the IRS (specifically LTR 5071C) or a letter from the Ohio Department of Taxation asking you to verify your identity or suggesting you may be a victim of identity theft? If so, you’re not alone.
And, in one respect, this letter is a good thing. It means that the taxing agency at hand did not in fact issue your refund to someone else, and it alerts you of the fraud so you can begin taking steps to rectify it. Many are not so “lucky.”
But with the final 2013 tax deadlines behind us, we look ahead to 2014 tax return reporting and know that fraud will continue to be a concern. Here’s what you need to know if you receive that fateful letter from the IRS, and if you have, in fact, been a victim of tax ID fraud:
11. Paper file your tax return. Include the LTR 5071C on the front and mail the return with the W-2s to the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
3651 S.I.H. 35 Stop 6573 AUSC
Austin, TX 78741
If you receive a notice from Ohio stating that your identity has been stolen, here are the initial steps to take:
Ohio Department of Taxation
Tax Technical/ID Theft Research
PO Box 182847
Columbus, OH 43218-2847
Reminders
The IRS does not request sensitive information via email. If you receive a suspicious email that states it’s from the IRS, forward it to phishing@irs.gov. And if you think your tax identity has been stolen, even without receiving a letter, contact your accountant or the IRS immediately.
We want to hear from you! We encourage you to comment below on this blog post, share it on social media or contact Laura White at lwhite@cohencpa.com or a member of your service team for further discussion.
This communication is published by Cohen & Company for our clients and professional associates. Cohen & Company is not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice. Any action taken based on information in this publication should be taken only after a detailed review of the specific facts and circumstances.