Identity theft takes many forms and is often not detected until after a crime is committed.
The crime can be financial, false identity or medical in nature.
Of particular interest to the author is the crime of falsifying identities for income tax purposes, which is growing with increasing speed. Usually, the taxpayer is unaware of the identity theft until they file their income tax return. They then receive a notice indicating that someone has already filed using their Social Security number. Sometimes, they receive a notice requesting documentation for a return that they have not yet filed.
Either scenario is disturbing, frustrating and time consuming to correct with the Internal Revenue Service.
A disproportionately large number of dental and medical professionals and those who work in dental or medical fields are affected by income tax-related identity theft.
Why is this?
Historically, your personal identifying information or your patient’s personal identifying information was frequently used in dental records and personnel files.
There has been considerable focus on the protection of dental and medical records and the processing of dental and medical records in the past years; however, the information is likely already out in cyberspace.
Your personal privacy and your patients’ privacy is only as good as the safeguards you have in place for personnel policies and procedures, document retention and technology.
You must focus on each area to ensure that personal identifying information remains private.
For additional information, visit identitytheft.gov.
Jessica B. Gatzke, CPA, MST
Scribner Cohen and Company, SC
