Lost tax return on thumb drive

[Casey Walker Robinson]

I recently had my 08 tax return along with my wife's on a thumb drive
but I lost it while running? Should I contact the IRS and let them
know in case someone does something with my info? Or what should I do?
Thanks

[Sam]

Casey Walker Robinson writes:

Contact Equifax, Experian, and Transunion, and put a fraud alert on your
file.

If your tax preparation software had you enter the account numbers for your
1099 payers, in addition to their names, you should contact them and see if
they can set a secret password that must be provided before they let anyone
access your account.

[paulthomascpa]

"Casey Walker Robinson" <casey.rob...@gmail.com> wrote

The IRS doesn't care. You have a potential breach for your personal data,
name, address, SSN, date of birth, and whatever else is on that thing.

Why you felt compelled to run with a copy of your tax return is beyond me.

Contact the credit reporting agencies and monitor your credit closely. You
are a prime candidate for identity fraud.

--
Paul Thomas, CPA
www.paulthomascpa.com

[Casey Walker Robinson]

On Nov 16, 5:41 am, "paulthomascpa" <paulthomascp...@bellsouth.net>
wrote:
> "Casey Walker Robinson" <casey.robinson....@gmail.com> wrote

Do you have any other advice for what I should do besides monitoring
my credit? What else can people do with all the info on tax return.
Thanks

[paulthomascpa]

"Casey Walker Robinson" <casey.rob...@gmail.com> wrote

> Do you have any other advice for what I should do besides monitoring
> my credit?

Not any that I wouldn't tell my own child. Don't run with your tax files.

> What else can people do with all the info on tax return.

Like the dollar amounts? Nothing. The really important stuff to be worried
about is your personal data, name, address, SSN, etc.

Nothing is gained and nothing is lost by someone knowing what your W-2 gross
is.

[Casey Walker Robinson]

On Nov 16, 1:08 pm, "paulthomascpa" <paulthomascp...@bellsouth.net>
wrote:
> "Casey Walker Robinson" <casey.robinson....@gmail.com> wrote

well i also have my business tax return there too for my s corp. Would
you advise obtaining identity theft insurance right now? Thanks

[paulthomascpa]

"Casey Walker Robinson" <casey.rob...@gmail.com> wrote

> well i also have my business tax return there too for my s corp.
> Would you advise obtaining identity theft insurance right now?

Was your banking info, for direct deposit, in the data?

[Bill Benton]

"Shawn Hirn" <sr...@comcast.net> wrote:
> In article
> <75fcd2ee-dc6e-4f86...@y32g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,

> That's the best advice I can think of, and to avoid this problem
> occurring again ... don't carry around confidential information with
> you
> unless you need it.

Another suggestion...encrypt the thumb drive.
http://www.truecrypt.org/