Identity Theft?
Saturday, August 30th, 2008 at
6:59 pm
crusher asked:
Has anybody dealt with identity theft. Its lookin like somebody may have used my SS# to claim me on their taxes. This is why I am not getting a stimulus check
Has anybody dealt with identity theft. Its lookin like somebody may have used my SS# to claim me on their taxes. This is why I am not getting a stimulus check
Tagged with: Identity Theft • Ss • Stimulus
Filed under: Identity Theft
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If someone else has claimed you as a dependent and you feel that you should not be so claimed, then you need to file a paper (not-efile) 2007 return (or amended return). The IRS will then ask both filers to justify the claims. Sometimes this happens because someone garbled a SSN on their return.
In an earlier question of yours, you said that YOU made a mistake and put zero for exemptions. That’s why it would look to the IRS computers like someone else had claimed you, and THAT’s why you aren’t getting a stimulus check.
As Judy has pointed out, your previous posts point to user error–yours!
When you originally filed, you put down 0 exemptions indicating that *you* said someone else could claim you. You said this was an error, that you didn’t mean to put zero.
Which is fine, but it’s a) not identity theft and b) only partially fixable. You can file an amended return to add yourself back to the tax return (and if you had income of more than $5350, you could get an additional refund), but it will NOT get you the $300 stimulus check. The stimulus check is based on your tax return as originally filed, even if you made a mistake.
When you file in 2008, you *might* get something for the stimulus then.
Yes I have seen some sorry cases of this, especially with retired people who do not normally file.
If you mailed in your return and claimed your own exemption, the IRS will follow up on your claim if there is a dispute. It may take more time than the published schedule to receive any stimulus that you are qualified to receive.
If you electronically filed, claimed your own exemption, and your return was accepted, then no one else had claimed you as a dependent at the time your return was filed.
I’m sorry to hear you may have been victimized. The best way to begin to straighten out your problem is to get an ID Theft Kit from the Federal Trade Commission. It will tell you what to do to clear up your problem and will give you the proper forms to fill out. It will also tell you what forms to use for the Social Security Administration.
An excellent website where you can get this kit is this one,
I also had something similar happen to me several years ago in New York. Some *^%#$! broke into my car and stole my radio and cd player. That wasn’t the least of my problems though, 2 months later, weird bills started showing up at my address. Things I never purchased were showing up in the mailbox. Apparently, the thief not only stole my car radio but was able to piece together enough information from my papers in the glove compartment to create a new credit card account.
It took me a while to fix this problem but it soured my credit and raised my interest rates!
I have been a victim of ID theft. If this is the case, you need help! Most ID Theft protection plans only cover credit theft (the easiest) when there are actually 3 more types social security, criminal, and medical. Here is a link to the ID theft protection plan I use, it covers all 4 types and is the best I know of:
I hope this helps and do not delay in getting it fixed, there are time limits that may keep somethings from being reversed if you wait too long to report it.