Step 1

Contact the IRS

If a fraudulent state return has been filed, it is likely one has been filed at the federal level, too.

Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialist Unit at 1 (800) 908-4490, or complete the IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, Form 14039.

Follow the directions on the back of the form to submit the form to the IRS.

Step 2

File a Police Report

File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with creditors who may want proof of the crime.

Step 3

Check your credit report for fraudulent charges

The law requires that major nationwide consumer reporting companies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – give you a free copy of your credit report each year.

Visit AnnualCreditReport.Com

Step 4

Place a Fraud Alert

You can place a fraud alert on your credit report by contacting one of the three major credit bureaus:

Equifax

1 (800) 525-6285

Experian

1 (888) 397-3742

TranUnion

1 (800) 680-7289

Step 5

Report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Online

FTC.gov/IDTheft

Phone

1 (877) ID-THEFT (1 (877) 438-4338)

For more information, see the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft webpage at IdentityTheft.gov.

Step 6

Contact your financial institutions

Reach out to your bank and other financial institutions such as credit card companies.

Ask if any of your accounts have been tampered with. For example, check to see if your address was changed or if new accounts have been created in your name.