 TITLE: How Common is Tax Identity Theft? CONTENT: What to Do if You're the Victim of Tax ID Theft\n-----------------------------------------------\nFortunately, tax identity theft won't lead to losing a tax refund if you're owed one. It can, however, result in delays as you work with the IRS or state tax agencies to resolve the issue.\nWhen you're the victim of tax identity theft, your next steps will depend on how the fraud was noticed.\nIf you're alerted to the fraud because the IRS sent you a letter, follow the included instructions and call the IRS to confirm your identity. After confirming your identity, you can verify whether you filed the return. It can then be processed or removed from the system, allowing you to file an accurate tax return.\nHowever, if you find out when you try to e-file your tax return and it's rejected due to a tax return already being filed with your SSN, you can file a paper tax return with an attached identity theft affidavit form. The IRS will then assign you to the Identity Theft Victim Assistance organization and work with you to understand your situation and resolve the issue(s).\nOther situations may dictate a different response. For instance, when you suspect someone used your information to claim unemployment, reach out to your state unemployment agency and request a corrected Form 1099-G. Even if your state doesn't get back to you before the federal tax filing deadline, you can still file a tax return and don't need to include an identity theft affidavit form.\nNo matter how you found out about the identity theft, you may want to file an identity theft report with the FTC. The agency will then create a personalized recovery plan based on your situation. END