Outlines process if personal information is stolen and results in a fraudulent tax return
(Long Island, NY) The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced today that it published a new Web page regarding identity theft.
The new Web page spells out what to do next if you think you may be the victim of identity theft. It also provides several links to information, such as the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft, that help taxpayers make identity protection part of their regular routine.
“If you’re a New York State taxpayer and find yourself in this situation, contact us right away,” said Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox. “We have a process in place to help protect you and minimize further damage that identity theft can cause.”
Identity theft is one of the fastest growing economic crimes in the nation, but taxpayers often don’t realize their information has been stolen until they receive an unexpected notice about their tax account from the Tax Department or the IRS.
Once identity theft is reported to the Tax Department, the agency can correct an account by removing any fraudulent returns from the record, and it can cancel bills issued that are related to the fraud. To head-off any additional suspicious activity, the Department will devote extra attention to future returns associated with the account.
“We are continually on high alert when it comes to identity theft, and we are dedicating more resources to protecting taxpayers’ information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure,”Commissioner Mattox said. “But we can’t say it enough: Treat all your personal information with care.”
For more information:
Complete an Identity Theft Declaration if you are an actual or potential victim of such a crime.
Department of Taxation and Finance home page – www.tax.ny.gov
