Alerts

January 1, 2007
Wisconsin Department of Revenue mails tax forms with exposed Social Security Numbers
170,000 Wisconsin taxpayers who filed returns with their spouse in 2005 by mail using the “long form”, WI Form 1, were notified that their 2006 tax forms have been mailed out with social security numbers visibly printed on the front. 

The Department of Revenue has stated that it will notify all affected taxpayers, and has also notified the postal service to locate and return as many of the forms as possible.  Department spokeswoman Meredith Helgerson said that they could not estimate how many of the forms made it through the mail.

There is a concern that criminals will steal the forms from unopened mailboxes and use the Social Security numbers for identity theft.

If you are an affected taxpayer you should:

• Pick up your mail promptly.
• As with all data breaches, run a credit report regularly.
• Don't throw out the tax booklet without first shredding the cover page that contains the social security number.
• Review the Office of Privacy Protection factsheets: Safeguarding Tips, What to do if it Happens to You, and Data Breach Law.

You may also want to consider:

• Placing a consumer fraud alert on your credit report
• Follow the consumer fraud alert by placing a security freeze on our credit report

Additional information can be found at the Department of Revenue website. www.revenue.wi.gov