The IRS compiles a list of the “Dirty Dozen” schemes each year to help tax payers protect themselves. This year, identity Theft is #1 on their list. The IRS processes more than 100 million tax returns each year and the IRS estimates that over 400,000 people fell victim to this scam from mid 2009 to 2011. With the IRS encouraging taxpayers to file electronically there has been growth in the ID theft area. In response, the IRS has added new filters to screen for identity theft and trained 35,000 employees to recognize indicators of ID theft and help those that are affected by the scheme. The IRS provides identity protection tips, these include a reminder that the IRS does not contact taxpayers via email, text or social sites. For more tips on how to protect yourself, click here.
Allison, Lynn. (2013, February 17). IRS faces surge in identity theft tax fraud. Retrieved from http://www.today.com/money/irs-faces-surge-identity-theft-tax-fraud-1B7881039
IRS (2013, March 26). IRS Releases Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2013. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Protect-Yourself-from-the-Dirty-Dozen-Tax-Scams
IRS (2013, March – revised). IRS Combats Identity Theft and Refund Fraud on Many Fronts. Retrieved from http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Combats-Identity-Theft-and-Refund-Fraud-on-Many-Fronts
