IRS warns taxpayers: This is what you should never do on social media to avoid tax fraud

Waiting for your tax refund requires a great deal of patience and it’s normal that many of start to feel a little anxious if the process is taking longer than usual.

The Internal Revenue Service have warned taxpayers about the dangers of publishing private, personal information online as it can be misused if it falls into the wrong hands.

The IRS stress the importance of protecting both your personal and tax account information and strongly advise against posting anything online that could expose you to identity theft.

Measures you can take to avoid identity theft

If you have a query or doubt regarding your tax declaration - or just want to share your own experience with others, it might be tempting to consult forums, community groups and social media sites. However, you should never share your personal tax information.

Posting personal financial information such as tax transcripts or refund details on social media increases the risk that your identity and personal details might be stolen.

The IRS have detailed five documents that should never be posted online:

The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media.

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) does not have the ability to open cases or respond to incoming messaging originating from its social media sites or subscriber lists.

What is identity theft?

Individual identity (ID) theft is “a fraud that is committed or attempted, using a person’s identifying information without authority.” ID theft may involve stealing someone’s Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), name, bank account, or credit card numbers, and using that information without permission. Some ID theft starts with something as simple as someone stealing a wallet or accessing your mail.

Tax Professionals Identity Theft is when cybercriminals target tax professionals to steal their clients’ personal financial information to file fraudulent tax returns to claim fake refunds.

Phishing and other forms of cybercrime are on the rise. Victims are contacted by email, telephone or text message by impostors, pretending to be from a legitimate company or institution who will try to catch you offguard. Callers have various methods to try to coax their victims into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords.

Protect your personal and tax account information at all times and never reveal any private data that could lead to identity theft and financial loss.

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