Should I be worried?

[tycin1]

I have been waiting on my W-2s so that I could file my taxes. On Friday, I called my employer's payroll office to see what was taking so long. The lady in payroll says that she mailed them a week and a half ago. :? I never received them. Now I am uneasy because I am thinking that someone could have stolen them from my mailbox. Here lately, the local news reports a new ID theft ring that has been busted in the area regularly. The ID thiefs have boxes full of stolen checks and other personal information. My W-2s would have ALL the info that an ID thief would need....income, SS#, employer name and address etc..... Should I be worried? The lady in payroll acted like I was being a PITA.

[chincheck]

Most information found on W-2's are also asked for on credit apps. One way to head a possible disaster off is to freeze your credit reports. The only downside, though, is that all credit pulls -- even legit ones initiated by you -- will require you to submit a written authorization to the CRA.

As for the lady in personnel, kindly inform her that it's the employer's responsibility to ensure that you receive your W-2. If she has a problem taking 2 minutes out of her day to re-print a W-2 and stuff it into an envelope, then she should take it up with her supervisor.

[Alexander]

Did you verify that they mailed them to the correct address?

You should never use an unlocked mail box for either incoming or outgoing mail.

[Ashley1]

Tax Fraud

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) www.treas.gov/irs/ci

The IRS is responsible for administering and enforcing tax laws. Identity fraud may occur as it relates directly to your tax records. Visit www.irs.gov and type in the IRS key word “Identity Theft” for more information.

If you have an unresolved issue related to identity theft, or you have suffered or are about to suffer a significant hardship as a result of the administration of the tax laws, visit the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service website www.irs.gov/advocate/ or call toll-free: 1-877-777-4778.

If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with the tax law, report it to the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Informant Hotline by calling toll-free: 1-800-829-0433 or visit www.irs.gov and type in the IRS key word “Tax Fraud.”