1. Tax Identity Theft Presenter Date
Insert tax topic notes in this portion of the slides.

2. About Me Name Years experience Certifications
H&R Block tax professionals must complete at least 15 hours of continuing education annually and are required to train on systems, policies and procedures up to an additional 35 hours of education annually.

3. Did you know that?
H&R Block served more than 24.1 million taxpayers in 2014
We have been preparing America’s taxes since 1955.
2015 marks H&R Block’s 60th Tax season
Is close to you with a retail office within 5 miles of most Americans
“We look at your life through tax…
and find ways to help.”

4. Tax Identity Theft Overview
What is Identity Theft
How do identity thieves get access to you information
What happens when your information is stolen
What is Tax Identity Theft
What to do if you’re a victim
How to reduce your chances of becoming a victim
How H&R Block can help

5. What is Identity Theft?
Identity theft happens when someone steals your personal information and uses it without your permission.
Fastest growing crime in the US
13M victims in 2013
30% increase from 2010

6. How do thieves steal your information?
Lost/stolen wallets or smart phones
Theft from friends or relatives
Buying information from corrupt insiders
Stolen tax returns, mail, financial documents
Phishing schemes over phone or
Data breaches (hackers)
Unsecure Wi-Fi hotspots
Social networking
Malicious software downloaded from unknown sources

7. What happens when your information is stolen?
The bad things that happen as a result can include:
Credit card fraud
Bank account access
Medical fraud
Utility fraud
Social Security fraud
And… Tax Identity Theft

8. What is Tax Identity Theft?
When Criminals use stolen personal identity information to file a fraudulent tax return and steal a refund from the IRS
Serious & growing problem that can impact your life and disrupt filing your tax return
Your name, social security number and birth date are all a thief needs to file a fraudulent tax return
Note: Typically occurs early in tax season using online tax filing products

9. What about Identity Theft Monitoring Services?
Are you protected from Tax Identity Theft if you have an identity theft monitoring service?
Other identity theft monitoring services are great for monitoring changes in your credit report, public record, etc…
But none are specifically directed to helping protect against tax identity theft.

10. Ongoing risk of other forms of Identity theft
What happens if you’re a victim?
Typical tax identity theft victim experience
Attempt to file your tax return and your tax return is rejected
Must contact the IRS Specialized protection unit
Complete Form an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit
Paper file (mail) your tax return; will not be able to eFile
Must include additional proof of identity to help prove that your tax return is the legitimate return
Ongoing communication with the IRS to answer questions or provide additional documentation as necessary (multiple follow-ups and waiting for results)
Ex: You may receive IRS audit notices or correspondence and will need to respond to all inquiries
Your refund may be delayed 180 days or longer after you reported the issue
Typically, an IRS Identity Protection PIN will be assigned for you to use going forward to help prevent further tax fraud
Discuss the typical process a victim must go through with the IRS if they are a victim of federal tax identity theft.
Describe the steps and then discuss how this impacts the victims
Rejected tax return
Delayed tax refund
Possible long waits in line or on phone
Confusing processes and additional paperwork
Anxiety associated with stolen personal information
Ongoing risk of other forms of Identity theft

11. How to reduce your risk of becoming a victim
Ten tips that may help you reduce your risk of Tax Identity Theft
File your taxes as early as possible
Store tax returns and documents with personal information in a secure place
If you move, be sure to update your address with the IRS and other important institutions
Minimize personal information kept in wallets or smart phones
Shred mail and other documents that include personal information

12. How to reduce your risk of becoming a victim
Ten tips that may help you reduce your risk of Tax Identity Theft (cont.)
Never give out personal information over the phone or through to someone who has contacted you. Remember, the IRS will always contact you through mail.
Secure your mailbox so only you and your mail carrier have access to your mail
Get a copy of your free annual credit report at and review it for suspicious activity
Make sure your web browser has an up-to-date firewall and don’t access online accounts on unsecured wireless networks
Work with a reputable and trusted tax preparer

13. H&R Block Can Help
Dedicated to being the most trusted, state-of-the-art tax preparation firm
The best trained tax professionals in the industry
Commitment to the safety of our client’s information
Strict policies and procedures for secure handling of client information
Modern systems encryption and authentication technology to protect confidential information
Tax documents are available securely online so client’s don’t have to store physical copies
Tax Identity ShieldSM by H&R Block – a tax identity protection membership that helps better protect you from becoming a victim of tax identity theft exclusively available for H&R Block clients
Tax Identity Restoration Assistance – in the event you are a victim of tax identity theft, let the tax experts guide you to take the right steps to restore your tax identity

14. Tax Identity ShieldSM
H&R Block has developed the Tax Identity Shield℠ to help better protect you from becoming a victim of tax identity theft.
First and only tax identity theft protection and restoration assistance product of its kind.
Tax Identity Shield℠ offers unique protection that provides you with tools that give you confidence knowing you are taking the right steps to reduce your risk of tax identity theft.
For more information, visit:

15. What to do if you are a victim of tax identity theft?
Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at
File IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039) and include valid proof of identification
File a local police report (many times you can do this online) and obtain an official report number
File an identity theft complaint with the FTC at or call IDTHEFT.
Contact the 3 major credit bureaus and place a “fraud alert” on your file
Contact your financial institutions and credit card companies to notify them of the situation
Order credit reports to review and report suspicious activity
Respond to all IRS and tax authority inquiries and keep a record of all correspondence to document the restoration of your tax identity

16. Questions?