More dentists report tax identity theft

Following up on earlier reports, the ADA has issued alerts that some member dentists have been victims of tax return identity theft in states beyond Michigan.

When Anchorage, AK, oral surgeon Gerald Bonnington, DDS, had his tax return rejected multiple times by an electronic tax preparation system for a problem with the taxpayer identification number, he called the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), according to an ADA News story.

Dr. Bonnington was told that his tax return had already been filed, and he was advised to call the credit reporting agencies to put a fraud alert on his accounts. He was also told to file reports with the police and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Dr. Bonnington said other Alaska dentists have been similarly affected.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who has called for a joint Secret Service-IRS investigation, said that more than 100 physicians, physician assistants, dentists, and nurse practitioners in New Hampshire have reported that someone filed a tax return using their Social Security numbers.

Other states where dentist members reported that they have been affected include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The IRS said it has started more than 200 new investigations this filing season into identity theft and refund fraud schemes. The total number of IRS identification theft investigations in 2014 exceeds 1,800, the notice said.

There are several steps dentists can take if their identity has been used to file a fraudulent tax return:

• Alert your accountant and attorney as soon as possible; they can be helpful in the process.
• Notify the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 800-908-4490. If you receive a notice from the IRS, respond immediately if you believe someone may have used your Social Security number fraudulently.
• The FTC offers more information at FTC.gov. Notify the FTC online or by calling 877-438-4338.
• Contact the three credit reporting agencies to place a fraud alert on your credit report: Equifax (800-525-6285), Experian (888-397-3742), and TransUnion (800-680-7289).
• Notify local law enforcement, and file a police report using the FTC Identity Theft Report.

An ADA member resource, Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft, is available at ADA.org. The ADA will update members with information as the story develops.