Michelle Reinen, Administrator for Wisconsin’s Division of Trade and Consumer Protection, is urging taxpayers to take extra steps to safeguard their income tax returns. She highlights that using stolen personal information to file fraudulent tax returns is a particularly insidious form of identity theft.
To bolster security, Reinen recommends taxpayers obtain Identity Protection PINs. These PINs provide an additional layer of protection and can be obtained through the IRS or Wisconsin Department of Revenue websites. Furthermore, she advises taxpayers to file their returns early and via secure methods. Taxpayers should avoid storing sensitive data on devices, shred unneeded documents, and protect their mail to prevent potential theft. Placing a security freeze on credit reports can also provide additional protection.
If taxpayers suspect they have become victims of tax return identity theft, they should report it to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue at 608-266-2772.
