From mid-April, certain Californians might face tax obligations on unemployment benefits they never asked for or received due to identity theft. This has come about because of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which numerous Californians lost their jobs and depended on unemployment insurance. The state employment development department, or EDD, sends 1099G tax forms to any individuals they have recorded as receiving benefits. However, their list is fraught with victims of identity theft who’ve not received any benefits.

Raphael Tulino, an IRS spokesperson, has provided suggestions for victims who’ve received a tax form stating they owe taxes on benefits they never received. The first step, he suggests, is contacting EDD and requesting a rectified 1099G form, thus insuring the IRS receives the correct information. If this proves unsuccessful, victims are advised to file their taxes, excluding the fake income from the fraudulent benefits. Lastly, the IRS has developed a new security measure to ward off identity theft—an IP pin, or an identity protection pin number, to be used on your tax return each year.

Facing identity theft can be stressful, and getting through to EDD might appear difficult, but there are resources to help guide you. One such resource is eddcaller.com, which provides valuable information on how to get through to EDD. They offer assistance on how to reach a live person at EDD in California, ensuring your tax concerns are addressed and solved accurately and efficiently. Seek their services to help navigate your way through this taxation concern.