Identity theft occurs when someone obtains your personal information – such as your social security number, credit card or bank account numbers, passwords, etc. to defraud or commit crimes. You might be a victim of identity theft if: Show
IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION TIPS: Taxes. Security. Together.The Security Summit launched an awareness campaign www.irs.gov/individuals/taxes-security-together to better inform you about the need to protect your personal, tax and financial data online and at home. People continue to fall prey to clever cybercriminals who trick them into giving up Social Security numbers, account numbers or password information. In turn, criminals use this information a variety of ways, including filing fraudulent tax returns. Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Identity thieves have many ways to obtain your personal information. However, there are a number of precautions you can take to minimize your risk. This video provides 5 tips you can use to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud. Other Resources
true Top Updated for Tax Year 2022 • November 17, 2022 01:02 PM OVERVIEW It's a happy day when your federal tax refund arrives. Most taxpayers receive their refund within 21 days of filing, but sometimes the check is not in the mail or deposited to your bank account as quickly as you would like. Often, delays in receiving tax refunds are caused by matters within your control. Once you become aware of the issues that cause delays, you can take steps to avoid them. 1. Silly typosIf you spell your name wrong or reverse any digits in your Social Security number (SSN) or for someone else on your return, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will notice. Sloppy handwriting can cause such errors, but so can being in a hurry. The IRS includes these kinds of typos on its list of common taxpayer mistakes and any one of them is enough to delay your refund. 2. Math mistakesTax returns include lots of math calculations, and the trickle-down theory applies. If you get one calculation wrong—like incorrectly adding, instead of subtracting, deductions—the math error trickles down to later calculations so that your tax return has inaccuracies. Double-check your math to prevent miscalculations and the delays they can cause. Better yet, e-file your return and let trusted software do the calculations for you. 3. More than one filing statusAre you: Married? Divorced? Head of Household? You might think several of these descriptions apply, but that's not the way it works for taxes. You only get to select one filing status. Filing-status questions are not simply seeking personal information. Your status determines your filing requirements, standard deductions and tax amounts. It pays to understand the different status options and check the correct one for your circumstances—you may end up seeing your refund faster. 4. Incorrect line entriesIf you fill out your tax forms by hand, it's easy to enter numbers on the wrong lines. This may seem like a small matter, but if you accidentally enter your alimony received amount one line off, it appears as business income. The IRS will naturally be confused because you will likely be missing other forms for business income and delay processing your tax return until the mistake is cleared up. 5. Early or last-minute tax filingIf you file too early, some of the tax forms you need may not be finalized for handling yet by the IRS. This delays your refund since the IRS won't process a return until their software is ready to handle all necessary tax forms. But filing at the last minute can be just as problematic. If you get the return in just before the tax deadline, you're part of the grand swarm of last-minute filers. The sudden glut of tax returns can cause processing delays. Best tip: file an electronic returnElectronic filing (e-filing), prevents many common taxpayer missteps that delay refunds, like illegible writing, math errors and entering info on the wrong lines, but e-filing also speeds up your refund even if you haven't made any errors. Paper returns are processed manually, which usually takes between four and six weeks. Each year the IRS warns taxpayers of delays in processing paper returns, suggesting that the minimum turnaround time can often be as long as seven weeks. Use TurboTax's Where's My Refund tracker to check the status of your federal tax return and tax refund directly with the IRS. Let an expert do your taxes for you, start to finish with TurboTax Live Full Service. Or you can get your taxes done right, with experts by your side with TurboTax Live Assisted. File your own taxes with confidence using TurboTax. Just answer simple questions, and we’ll guide you through filing your taxes with confidence. Whichever way you choose, get your maximum refund guaranteed. All you need to know is yourselfAnswer simple questions about your life and TurboTax Free Edition will take care of the rest. For simple tax returns only Real tax experts on demand with TurboTax Live BasicGet unlimited advice and an expert final review. Done right, guaranteed. For simple tax returns only
The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business. Why haven't i got my refund yet from the IRS?Undelivered Federal Tax Refund Checks
If you were expecting a federal tax refund and did not receive it, check the IRS' Where's My Refund page. You'll need to enter your Social Security number, filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund. You may be prompted to change your address online.
Why is it taking so long to get my tax refund?What's Taking So Long to Receive Refunds? If you don't receive your refund in 21 days, your tax return might need further review. This may happen if your return was incomplete or incorrect. The IRS may send you instructions through the mail if it needs additional information in order to process your return.
When can I expect my refund 2022?Overall, the IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically.
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