<p>Oh, good friends of cc, I’m sure one of you knows the answer - I received a letter from the IRS today saying I’d not reported all my income for 2006 & 2007. Looking over the pound of documents they sent, I found that my social security number is attached to someone elses name and reported to the IRS on a 1099-Misc for rental income. This is the income the IRS is saying I didn’t report, close to $40,000 in income. And is the only thing that is differs in the IRS records from my records. I’ve responded to the IRS and told them what the mistake is. But should I take any further action? there’s nothing on my credit reports to show anyone is using my social for credit. I tried calling the company that issued the 1099-Misc for the rental income but they told me to contact the IRS. They wouldn’t even open their file. (so tempted to write them and ask them to send me the $40,000…). </p>
<p>What would you do? Fraud alert at the credit agencies? Is that really necessary? wait for a response from the IRS? thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Could it be some clerical error rather than ID theft? I recall you sold a house and bought a new one a year or two ago. Could the slightly complicated transaction have given rise to error? It would be useful to check that out before moving on to investigating possible ID theft.</p>
<p>Have they provided you with a copy or the information regarding the payor? I would try to contact them and find out more. They have an obligation to file truthful 1099s</p>
<p>Sounds clerical to me as well, especially if someone else’s name has been linked to your social. My SS was entered incorrectly and was associated with someone else’s name who DIED. Now, when a Safescan is run at the time a credit check is run, a warning is issued to anyone issuing me credit (ie a car dealership) that the SS number has been linked to someone who is deceased, and warns not to complete the transactions without asking for an original SS card and other legal identification. I still have not been able to find out where the error originated. But when a computer scan of death records, life insurance payouts, government databases etc is run, my number comes up as being linked to someone who died. </p>
<p>Good Luck. At least you have the name of the issuer of the 1099 and the name of someone else on the 1099. I agree that the issuer has some responsibility here. If they refuse to help AND someone else’s name is on the 1099, then the IRS will certainly be contacting them.</p>
<p>Oakland, if they had your name and SS right for two years, I dont think an accident. Either someone is using your number or something cavey. Oops sorry I didnt read that you already tried to contact them. I would write them a really nasty letter that if they dont assist you – you will write to the IRS that you want the IRS to puruse THEM for filing erroneous 1099. If the payor was on the up and up they would be anxious to fix their files.</p>
<p>You might want to get an Earnings Statement from the Social Security Administration. <a href=“https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/isss/main.html[/url]”>https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/isss/main.html</a>. They might also be of help in resolving this, or maybe not, but it might give you some additional information and/or you can ask them to investigate. I have a friend who just had her disability benefits interrupted because of a 1099-Misc – clearly she’s not disabled, according to the SSA, because she earned $250,000 last year! And then, as a last resort, a lawyer letter to the issuer of the 1099 might pursue them to open their file and check.</p>