 TITLE: How Does the IRS Verify Your Identity? CONTENT: What to Do if You're Already the Victim of Identity Theft\n---------------------------------------------------------\nIdentity theft comes in all shapes and sizes. Overall, tax fraud from identity theft is not as common as other types of fraud, such as unauthorized credit card charges or someone acquiring new credit with your identity. No matter the type of fraud you've fallen victim to, however, it's important to take immediate steps to address it.\nIf you discover you've been victimized since filing your last tax return, you'll want to notify the appropriate parties to help clear up issues and minimize future headaches. You might want to:\n*   Alert the IRS immediately using this form as it can help put a stop to future tax ID fraud.\n*   File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).\n*   Contact any relevant government agencies if you also pay state and local taxes.\n*   File a crime report with local law enforcement. This isn't required by the IRS or FTC, but it could be good to have a copy of your report on hand when clearing your name. Your report could also aid in the law enforcement investigation and prosecution of whoever stole your identity. END