A Refund You Didn’t File For or a Balance Due You Don’t Owe: When the IRS Knows a Return You Never Submitted
Quick Review: An IRS refund for a return you never filed and a balance-due notice tied to a return you do not recognize can be two signs of the same problem: someone may have used your identity to file a tax return. Do not spend an unexpected refund or pay a disputed balance before checking […]
Buying a House? How Tax Identity Theft Can Derail Your Mortgage Approval
URGENT: REVIEW YOUR IRS RECORDS BEFORE YOUR NEXT MORTGAGE APPLICATION. Quick Review: Mortgage lenders may use IRS tax transcripts to verify income during underwriting. If a transcript is unavailable or does not match the documents provided, the lender may need more information before it can approve the loan. Buyers can check their IRS records before […]
Your E-Filed Return Was Rejected Because Your SSN Was Already Used: What That Rejection Code Really Means
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: GET 90 DAYS FREE WITH CODE 3 MONTHS FREE Quick Review: An e-file rejection saying a Social Security number was already used can signal tax identity theft, but it does not always mean the taxpayer’s own SSN was used. Check the full rejection message and code, distinguish a duplicate return from a name […]
Got a CP2000 Notice for Income You Never Earned? How a Fraudulent Return Catches Up With You Months Later
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: GET 90 DAYS FREE WITH CODE 3 MONTHS FREE Quick Review: A CP2000 notice says that income information reported to the IRS does not match a tax return. If it lists wages or other income the taxpayer never received, identity theft may be one possible explanation, but a reporting error or other discrepancy […]
Year-End Payroll Security: What Employers Should Do Before W-2s Go Out
EMPLOYERS: USE THIS FREE CHECKLIST TO REVIEW PAYROLL SECURITY BEFORE W-2S GO OUT. Quick Review: November and December bring a busy mix of year-end payroll, benefits updates, and W-2 preparation. These processes involve sensitive employee information, including Social Security numbers. Before W-2s are issued in January, employers can review system access, strengthen account controls, check […]
State Tax Identity Theft: Why Your State Return Is a Separate Target
ACT NOW: REVIEW YOUR STATE’S TAX IDENTITY REPORTING OPTIONS AND EXPLORE TAX GUARDIAN PROTECTION Quick Review: A clean federal return does not confirm that a state return is clear. State revenue departments operate separate filing and refund systems, with their own reporting channels and identity checks. If state tax activity looks unfamiliar, contact the state […]
How to Vet a Tax Preparer Before Filing Season Starts: Credentials, Red Flags, and the Questions to Ask
FILING SEASON IS APPROACHING: EXPLORE TAX GUARDIAN’S IRS-FOCUSED PROTECTION TODAY. Quick Review Verify that a paid preparer has a current Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). Check credentials and representation rights, and use the IRS directory as a screening tool. Avoid preparers who promise unusually large refunds, charge a percentage of the refund, refuse to sign […]
Someone Accessed My IRS Online Account: What to Do Next
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: 3 MONTHS FREE, USE CODE 90 FREE TRIAL Quick Review: An unauthorized IRS Online Account sign-in does not automatically mean a fraudulent return was filed. However, account changes, transcript requests, payment activity, or altered profile details may signal broader IRS identity theft. Secure the account, preserve evidence, contact the IRS, and monitor related […]
IRS Identity Theft Cases Now Average 20 Months: The Proven 5-Step Framework to Shorten Your Wait
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: GET 90 DAYS FREE WITH CODE 3 MONTHS FREE Quick Review: IRS tax identity theft cases can take about 20 months to resolve, largely because of backlogs and time spent waiting for case assignment. Taxpayers cannot control IRS processing speed, but they can avoid adding preventable delays by following official instructions, completing requests, […]
Someone Used My Child’s Social Security Number: Dependent Tax Fraud and What to Do
LIMITED-TIME OFFER: GET A 90-DAY FREE TRIAL WITH CODE “3 MONTHS FREE.” Quick Review: A child’s Social Security number can be misused to file a fraudulent return or claim a dependent. A rejected return, unexpected IRS notice, smaller refund, or letter about a child who never filed may require prompt review. Verify the facts, contact […]
