The IRS reaches out to taxpayers through regular mail, not phone calls, texts, or email messages. And IRS agents will never call you and ask for your Social Security number or other personal information.
If taxpayers receive a call threatening to suspend their SSN for an unpaid tax bill, they should just hang up. Make no mistake…it's a scam. Taxpayers should not give out sensitive information over the phone unless they are positive they know the caller is legitimate. ... The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments.
IS THE 'IRS STATUS PAGE' A LEGITIMATE SITE? While it's always good practice to avoid putting your social security number and other personal information into websites, there is a legitimate IRS site that can tell you the status of your refund. ... As long as you're on the IRS.gov site, you should be good to go.
To verify the identity of the signer, we match the disability applicant's answers during the application process with the following information in our records: name, date of birth, Social Security number, place of birth, work history, and mother's maiden name.
The IRS recently launched an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and applications.
The IRS sends these identity verification letters to taxpayers after receiving an e-filed/paper-filed tax return, before processing a refund. Sometimes this is to randomly verify identification as a measure to prevent identity theft and to test and strengthen IRS internal controls.
If you did not receive an IRS notice but believe you've been the victim of identity theft, contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490 right away so we can take steps to secure your tax account and match your SSN or ITIN. Also, fill out the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039 PDF.
The IRS doesn't initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Recognize the telltale signs of a scam. See also: How to know it's really the IRS calling or knocking on your door.
A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit.
Anyone who contacts you by phone, official looking mail, or text asking (or demanding) your Social Security number. Only give it out when you initiate the contact and only when it is necessary.
Anyone can refuse to disclose his or her number, but the requester can refuse its services if you do not give it. Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone's number and use it for any purpose that does not violate a federal or state law.
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
How long does that take? It depends on the complexity of your problem. The IRS says that it resolves tax identity theft cases in 120 to 180 days, depending on your circumstances. But in many instances, victims of complex tax identity theft have experienced resolution times of more than one year.
When it comes to tax-related identity theft, the Internal Revenue Service wants to resolve your case as quickly as possible. The IRS has worked hard to help victims of identity theft by making improvements and shortening the time it takes to resolve these complex situations.
If your identity verification attempt was unsuccessful, it simply means that the information you provided did not match the authoritative sources we use for verification. Unsuccessful verification attempts may be due to many reasons: ... Your credit profile may contain erroneous information.
As you prepare to file your 2021 taxes, you'll want to watch for two letters from the IRS to make sure you get the money you deserve. This year, the IRS is mailing two letters – Letter 6419 and Letter 6475 – to qualifying Americans.
You should also keep in mind that the IRS will NEVER call you or e-mail you in an attempt to verify your identity. ... If you receive a call from someone asking you to verify your identity and claiming to be with the IRS, it is most likely a scam.
Why do phone companies want your Social Security number? Because it's the easiest way to check your credit rating. Companies like AT&T and T-Mobile want to know if you have a record of paying your bills on time before agreeing to provide you an account or to sell you a phone in monthly installments.
Many businesses ask for your SSN because it is a convenient way to identify you in their system. As a result, your social security number can now reveal all kinds of information about you, including places you've lived, your credit history, and maybe even medical conditions.
This is done by calling our National 800 number (Toll Free 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). Once requested, any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record is blocked.
You can't change your Social Security number simply because your card has been lost or stolen, or to avoid bankruptcy or legitimate debts. The only other reasons Social Security will consider assigning a new number are: ... You have religious or cultural objections to certain numbers or digits in your original number.
Answers to identity verification questions. These are questions generated by a credit bureau. So, you will be asked to provide your social security number, but they ensure that they won't “run the kind of credit check that will ding your score”.