Community Chat

[TaxyLady]

I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

[serenity4ever]

Perhaps the OP heard something about filing on line and people using stolen social security numbers....

Regarding filing early.....

It can also help protect you from fraud. In 2011, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that the IRS had sent out roughly $3.6 billion to more than 1 million people filing fake tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers. The red flag often isn't raised until the legitimate taxpayer attempts to file with that same Social Security number.

"If you file early, it negates the opportunity for someone who's stolen your identity to use your information because you've already filed and you're in their system," Falanga says.

[BellaPaprika]

From what I've read it's people filing your tax return before you do either by mail or online. They will file online with phony income figures because they don't have your actual W2s. They must get your soc. sec. # somehow as well. It said you will eventually get your real refund but it will be delayed while they figure out which of the two filings are real.

This is the advice they listed:

You can't prevent tax-related identity theft—we're all vulnerable, but there are things you can do to reduce your risk.

• If you file by mail, do it at a post office, not from an unlocked mailbox in front of your house.
• If you file electronically, use a secure computer on a secure network. It's OK to check the weather using a Wi-Fi hot spot, but don't do anything financial or tax-related on a public Wi-Fi network.
• Get your return done as soon as you can. It really is in your best interest to file as early as possible.

[MaggieToo]

Since I don't get refunds, I am lazy about getting mine done. I have only now started gathering my papers to take to the preparer.

[momma3gs]

Thanks for the timely warning, ShowMe, and to you, BlueCollarBabe.

[SydneyH]

On 2/18/2014 TaxyLady said:

I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Still not sure what the 'warning' is, my CPA has never had a loss of secure information and he has a lot of long-time clients.

[BellaPaprika]

On 2/18/2014 SydneyH said:

On 2/18/2014 TaxyLady said:

I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Still not sure what the 'warning' is, my CPA has never had a loss of secure information and he has a lot of long-time clients.

Read my post #12. It's not CPAs that they're concerned about apparently.

[SurvivedOne]

On 2/18/2014 SydneyH said:

On 2/18/2014 TaxyLady said:

I hope my accountant knows to be careful because he files my return online.

Still not sure what the 'warning' is, my CPA has never had a loss of secure information and he has a lot of long-time clients.

Makes no sense to me either. As well in 2014, don't get why usually older people think its "safer" to mail cheques, bills, returns etc. All your personal info, name, address, banking info, social security info, etc. is sitting in an envelope that anyone can easily steal.

[biancardi]

On 2/18/2014 serenity4ever said:

Perhaps the OP heard something about filing on line and people using stolen social security numbers....

Regarding filing early.....

It can also help protect you from fraud. In 2011, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that the IRS had sent out roughly $3.6 billion to more than 1 million people filing fake tax returns using stolen Social Security numbers. The red flag often isn't raised until the legitimate taxpayer attempts to file with that same Social Security number.

"If you file early, it negates the opportunity for someone who's stolen your identity to use your information because you've already filed and you're in their system," Falanga says.

that is exactly what I was referring to in my first post on this thread.

[SurvivedOne]

I just checked CNN's money page and found an ariticle that now as its tax time, brining forth info regarding tax preparers filing fraudulent returns as has been the case prior.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/02/18/pf/taxes/tax-preparers/index.html?