Ripley said:
I think there’s some confusion here.
Did your parents file a separate tax return for any income you earned?
Yes, my parents did (I’m their dependent).
You’re misunderstanding. People are asking if a return was filed specifically for you. If so, check that it doesn’t accidentally say you’re not a dependent. This small mistake is usually the issue.
@Kip
Got it, sorry. Yes, a return was filed for me. I’ll check to see if I accidentally claimed myself.
You’re doing all the right things by freezing your credit, adding alerts, and setting up an ID PIN.
I’d suggest also getting copies of your credit reports and ChexSystems/Early Warning reports. Adding a fraud alert on ChexSystems is a good idea too. If you find any accounts you didn’t open, file an ID theft affidavit and maybe a police report.
It’s also possible someone else typed in your SSN by mistake.
Regarding the notice itself, there’s nothing to worry about if your parents used the correct info and you can be claimed as their dependent.
The main focus should be preventing this from happening again, and you’re already handling that well.
Did you file a return for yourself?
Heath said:
Did you file a return for yourself?
No, my parents handle it.
One common reason for this is if the checkbox wasn’t marked to show you can be claimed as a dependent.
If you’re worried about ID theft, getting an ID PIN is a good step.
https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin
Heath said:
Did you file a return for yourself?
No, my parents handle it.
Technically, it’s your return, so you’re responsible for it. Might be a good time to start handling this yourself.
Maybe best to change your name and get a new Social Security number if you’re worried about fraud.
From now on, try to file your taxes as early as you can.