While con artists love tax season, 2020 marked the first year since at least 2014 that tax-related identity theft was not included on the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams. However, it remains a threat to all taxpayers, yourself included. All the bad guys need to do is file your tax return before you do and redirect your refund to their bank account.

Commissioner Rettig’s words ring true (see image above), especially when you stop to consider that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased online activity for many of us. As a result, it stands to reason that con artists are increasing their online activity as well, and capitalizing on our increased exposure to online identity theft.

One of the tools the IRS offers taxpayers to help in the fight against tax-related identity theft is the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN)— a six-digit number that the IRS is authorized to assign to eligible taxpayers. The number is known only to the taxpayer and the IRS, and it’s meant to prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using the taxpayer’s Social Security Number (SSN).

As the IRS puts it, the IP PIN locks your federal tax account, and serves as the key to opening that account. So, if you file electronically and your submission doesn’t contain the correct IP PIN, it will be Continue reading… Continue reading… Continue reading…