Now that tax season is in full swing, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is reminding taxpayers to remain cautious throughout this time. Unfortunately, there are Wisconsin taxpayers every year who fall victim to theft tax return scams.

During tax season, online thieves will often attempt to file a tax return under your name and direct the refund to themselves by including their own banking information. As soon as the tax return money is deposited into their account, these individuals will take out the refund as cash in attempt to cover their tracks. Sometimes, the thief will also include the children’s identities in order to claim them as dependents.

However, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. Importantly, if you are concerned that you have already fallen victim to this scam, the easiest way for you to find out is to look at whether a return has already been submitted. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has an online tool that allows you to check your tax return filing status. You can go to_https://www.revenue.wi.gov, click online services, and look for a link called “Check if your 2020 tax return was filed.”

Additional methods for figuring out whether you are a victim of this scam include checking your mail for notices from the IRS that you have already sent in your return, that there was a discrepancy in a return that you know you did not file or that your account has been sent to collections for a return that you did not submit.

There are several steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of being targeted by tax return thieves:

•File your taxes early in the season before a thief can

•_Make sure your computer system is up to date and you have updated antivirus software

•Use strong passwords for your tax software login

•Limit the amount of personal details you share online

•_Know that the IRS, the US Treasury, or the Wisconsin Department of Revenue will NEVER call and threaten you with arrest or legal action about back taxes. Any calls of this nature are a scam

• Do not click on links that could redirect you to imposter websites

•Avoid downloading attachments in emails from unknown senders or in suspicious emails Although there are many steps you can take to prevent being a victim of a tax return scam, we, as legislators, are also doing our part by taking the necessary steps to protect you from these scams. This week, the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety will be voting on two bills that I have co-sponsored, AB 45 and AB 46, which both provide increased protections against financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. I hope to see these bills pass through committee so they can make it to the floor and end up signed on the governor’s desk.

If you think you may be a victim, DATCP suggests that you report the fraud immediately by calling the IRS at 1-800-8290433 and the WI Department of Revenue at 608-266-2486. In addition, DATCP has an information packet available at_https://datcp.wi.gov/Documents/IDTheftTaxFraudPacket665.p df. You can also call their Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800422-7128 for more information.