Tax-ID Fraud 2015

Important information for volunteers and employees from the Archdiocese regarding Tax-Identity Fraud

If you believe you may be the victim of Tax Identity Fraud, visit the Archdiocese website at www.archdpdx.org/Tax_fraud_info/index.html. You will find information and links with steps to follow.

Below are a couple recent notices from the Archdiocese which we ran in our weekly bulletin

January 20, 2015

IP-PINs delayed by IRS

(link to original memo)

The Archdiocese has just learned that the IRS is delayed in issuing IP-PINs.  Thus, you may not receive an IP-PIN during this tax season, even though you had a background check performed in connection with service for the Archdiocese, a parish or school.  The IRS will continue to issue IP-PINs on a rolling basis.  If you have received an IP-PIN, you must use it to file your taxes.  If you have not received an IP-PIN, the IRS advises that the best way to protect yourself is to file your taxes early.  The IRS apologizes for the delays and the confusion it has caused. 

The FAQs posted in the Archdiocese’s website are being revised accordingly and will be udpated on Tuesday, January 20, 2015

If you have questions, please contact the IRS Identity Protection Special Unit at 1-800-908-4490 or visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center.  Please do not contact the Archdiocese or your parish or school.  Neither the Archdiocese not your parish or school has any further information on the issuance of the IP-PINs.

January 9, 2015

IP-PINs to be issued to all who had criminial background check through previous vendor

(link to original memo)

The IRS informed the Archdiocese of Portland that, in an effort to assist individuals potentially affected by tax fraud, it is attempting to issue an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) number to every individual who had a criminal background check processed through the former background check vendor for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and the Archdiocese of Seattle, regardless of when, or for which parish, school or other organization. The IP PIN number has been or will be sent by the IRS via US Mail by early January 2015. The IP-PIN must be included on your 2014 tax return. The IRS will not process returns that do not include this IP PIN number in an effort to protect people from having a fraudulent return filed in their name for the 2014 tax year.

Please read important information posted about this IP-PIN mailing on the Archdiocesan website: www.archdpdx. org. Click on Action Alert on the first page. If you have questions, please contact the IRS Identity Protection Special Unit at 1-800-908-4490 or visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center.

Important links and phone numbers

The Archdiocese has posted the follwing links regarding the incident.