{"id":4803,"date":"2016-10-19T08:00:26","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T13:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/taxprocenter.proconnect.intuit.com\/?p=4803"},"modified":"2017-10-17T13:15:20","modified_gmt":"2017-10-17T18:15:20","slug":"help-your-clients-handle-identity-theft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accountants.intuit.com\/taxprocenter\/client-relationships\/help-your-clients-handle-identity-theft\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Your Clients Handle Identity Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Identity theft is a fact of life. Clients who are victimized by identity theft are likely to be on the lookout for unauthorized credit card charges or erosion of their credit scores. The client\u2019s tax records can also be at risk.<\/p>\n

In one common scheme, an identity thief will use a stolen Social Security number (SSN) to file a forged tax return claiming a fraudulent refund early in the filing season. The real taxpayer may not be aware that this has happened until the taxpayer files a legitimate return later in the season and discovers that two returns have been filed using the taxpayer\u2019s SSN. In another scheme, an identity thief may use a stolen SSN to get a job. When wages from the employer are reported to the IRS using the taxpayer\u2019s SSN, but are not shown on the taxpayer\u2019s return, the taxpayer will receive an underreporting notice.<\/p>\n

Identity theft should be suspected if a client receives a letter or notice from the IRS indicating that:<\/p>\n