The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Tuesday issued an alert to let consumers know there is a new way to report tax-related identity theft to the IRS online.
Consumers can report to the IRS through IdentityTheft.gov. This is the only place consumers can submit their IRS Form 14039 electronically. Here’s how it works: IdentityTheft.gov will first ask some questions to collect the information the IRS needs, then use this information to populate the Form 14039 and let the consumer review it.
Once the person is satisfied, he or she can submit the Form 14039 to the IRS through IdentityTheft.gov. Users can also download a copy for their own records, too. About 30 days later, the IRS will send out a letter confirming it received the information.
Considering the rising rate of tax-related scams, the IRS warns taxpayers to remain vigilant about increasingly aggressive tactics and constantly evolving schemes employed by fraudsters to carry out their criminal activities. This is especially true during tax season.
Tax-related identity theft happens when someone uses stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a tax return and claim someone else’s refund.
