--- title: Preventing Tax-Refund Fraud | TIME description: Don't let someone else claim your tax refund this year. canonical: https://time.com/video/S3TOm3eJ/ og:title: Preventing Tax-Refund Fraud og:description: Don't let someone else claim your tax refund this year. og:url: https://time.com/video/S3TOm3eJ/ og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/S3TOm3eJ/poster.jpg?width=720 og:type: video.other twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Preventing Tax-Refund Fraud twitter:description: Don't let someone else claim your tax refund this year. twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/S3TOm3eJ/poster.jpg?width=720 --- # Preventing Tax-Refund Fraud > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Subscription: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923, reporting on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription. ## Video: Preventing Tax-Refund Fraud [Watch (HLS stream): Preventing Tax-Refund Fraud](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/S3TOm3eJ.m3u8) (1:43)  _Published 2016-03-29. Don't let someone else claim your tax refund this year._ --- Jul 27, 2023 7:50 PM UTC --- ## More From This Series [All Videos](https://time.com/video/) [Mannes on the Street: How Do You Spend Your Tax Refund](/video/DSTmCGcs/) ### Mannes on the Street: How Do You Spend Your Tax Refund [Walmart Wants To Cash Your Tax Refund Check](/video/TvDk0Pz9/) ### Walmart Wants To Cash Your Tax Refund Check [Year-End Tax Tips: How To Make Sure Stock Gains Don't Grow Your Tax Bill](/video/BOqv79Gn/) ### Year-End Tax Tips: How To Make Sure Stock Gains Don't Grow Your Tax Bill --- ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Identity theft using tax returns is on the rise, but you can take some measures to make sure this doesn't happen to you. Here's how this crime works. Someone gets ahold of your name, your social security number, and your date of birth. Then using your identity, that person files with the IRS a tax return claiming a refund. The crook gets the money, and when you file your return, you get blocked out. It can take months for you to straightened things out and get any refund that's lawfully yours. So how can you defend yourself? The first thing to do is file your tax return as soon as possible. That way you can cut down the chances of an identity thief filing before you do. Another option is to use a passcode to prevent someone else from filing in your name. If your identity has been stolen before, or if you have good reason to believe you're at risk, the IRS lets you apply for a six digit identity protection pin. An extra level of security protecting your return. A pilot program this year also enables any resident of Florida, Georgia or Washington DC, three places where this type of fraud is most common, to get an IP pin. In early March though the IRS temporarily suspended issuing IP pins, so check at IRS. gov to see if it's available. [ MUSIC ] Finally, if you've already been victimized by tax return identity theft, follow the IRS' instructions about what to do. Tell the police, and inform the three major credit bureaus. You can find detailed instructions at identitytheft. gov. And be patient. Though you won't be on the hook for any stolen refund, the IRS takes nine months on average to resolve these cases. 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