Unemployment compensation fraud was one of the more common identity theft schemes that emerged in 2020 as criminals exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Inspector General estimated approximately $89 billion in unemployment compensation was lost in 2020 due to fraud.

Internal Revenue Service urges those entities with Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) to update their applications if there has been a change in the responsible party or contact information.

All Tax Payers are now eligible to voluntarily get an Identity Protection PIN that will help protect you from tax-related identity theft. The IP PIN is a 6-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers. It helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns with stolen Social Security numbers (SSNs). An IP PIN helps the IRS verify taxpayers’ identities and accept their electronic or paper tax returns for processing.

The Internal Revenue Service today continued its "Dirty Dozen" tax scams with a warning for people to watch out for predators using tax-related schemes ranging from fake charities to scams targeting seniors and immigrants.

The Internal Revenue Service upgraded a key online tool to enable families to quickly and easily update their bank account information so they can receive their monthly Child Tax Credit payment.

The bank account update feature was added to the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, available only on IRS.gov.

The IRS reminds taxpayers who missed the recent tax-filing deadline who are due a refund that there is no penalty for filing late. Those who owe and missed the deadline without requesting an extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest.

The Internal Revenue Service today reminds tax-exempt organizations that operate on a calendar year basis that certain annual information and tax returns they file with the IRS are due on May 17, 2021

The Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to continue using electronic options to speed the processing of tax returns, refunds and payments. IRS.gov showcases many task-based tools and features to help people navigate their taxes. All are available 24/7/365.

You should protect your personal and financial data from criminals. Thieves use your data to file bogus tax returns and commit crimes while impersonating you.

Although every year the IRS encourages taxpayers to e-file their returns and use direct deposit to receive refunds, to those taxpayers who have previously not used e-file, the IRS emphasizes using it this year to avoid paper-related processing delays. Taxpayers can file electronically by using a tax professional, IRS Free File or other commercial tax preparation software. The IRS cautioned paper-filed tax returns and paper checks will take even longer this year due to a variety of reasons.

Following an unpredictable year with many changes and challenges, the Internal Revenue Service shared important reminders for taxpayers who are about to file their 2020 federal tax returns.

The Internal Revenue Service posted updated FAQs about recent legislation that extended and amended tax relief to certain small- and mid-sized employers under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).

Scammers also took advantage of the pandemic by filing fraudulent claims for unemployment compensation using stolen personal information of individuals who had not filed claims.

Taxpayers who receive an incorrect Form 1099-G for unemployment benefits they did not receive should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised Form 1099-G showing they did not receive these benefits.

Starting last week week (Jan 7th), the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service are sending approximately 8 million second Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) by prepaid debit card.

Good preparation now can help businesses avoid problems later. The Internal Revenue Service reminds employers that they must file Form W-2 and other wage statements by February 1, 2021, to avoid penalties and help the IRS prevent fraud. For instance, employers can get an early start verifying or updating employee information like names, addresses and Social Security numbers or Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers.

In support of National Small Business Week – September 22 to 24 – the Internal Revenue Service is emphasizing the many IRS online resources available to help small business owners and self-employed individuals handle the tax aspects of their business.

To protect the health of taxpayers and tax professionals, the Internal Revenue Service today announced it will temporarily allow the use of digital signatures on certain forms that cannot be filed electronically.