| As the internet grows as a business medium, | | | | Your social security number is also the |
| identity theft is becoming a bigger problem | | | | number used by the IRS to track your |
| by the week. Most people, however, don't | | | | earnings. If someone else is using it to get |
| realize it can cause you problems with the | | | | a job, the IRS is going to think you earned |
| IRS. | | | | far more money than you are reporting on your |
| | | | return. Nothing aggravates the IRS more. You |
| As the name suggests, identity theft is the | | | | can expect a huge audit and pure misery until |
| swiping of your identity for dubious | | | | the situation is worked out. |
| purposes. If it happens to you, it is more or | | | | |
| less a nightmare. The biggest worry for most | | | | If this nightmare scenario happens to you, |
| people is credit accounts being opened and | | | | are you sunk? Nope. The IRS is keenly aware |
| abused by the thief in question. This results | | | | of the problems with identity theft. This is |
| in your credit being destroyed, which means | | | | particularly true since scam artists are |
| good luck in buying a house and so on. | | | | sending out fake IRS emails to try to snare |
| | | | unwary individuals. If you are a victim of |
| There are other ways identity theft can be a | | | | identity theft and start getting notice from |
| problem. Identity theft can really hurt you | | | | the IRS, there is one step you need to take. |
| with the IRS. There are a couple of ways this | | | | You must immediately contact the IRS. If you |
| can happen, so let's take a closer look. | | | | procrastinate, the IRS is not going to be |
| | | | particularly sympathetic. Act now. |
| First, you identity can be used to create | | | | |
| fake identities for others. It sounds like | | | | Once you act, the IRS will take a closer look |
| something out of a spy novel, but there is a | | | | at the earnings. They may interview the |
| more practical application these days. | | | | employer, but will definitely look at the |
| Illegal immigrants are facing new regulations | | | | location of the business. If you are in Los |
| in some states where they must produce proof | | | | Angeles and the employer is in Boston, the |
| of citizenship to receive medical service, a | | | | IRS is going to let you off the hook. |
| job and so on. Guess where they are getting | | | | |
| it? Yes, your personal financial information | | | | Identity theft is a nightmare, so be careful |
| is being sold to them, specifically your | | | | out there. If you run into a problem that |
| social security number. | | | | gets the attention of the IRS, communicate |
| | | | immediately with them to avoid bigger |
| So, how does this cause you problems with the | | | | problems. |
| IRS? This is where the second problem arises. | | | | |