Tax forms mailed with Soc. Sec. numbers

[OhioChick]

The Associated Press December 30, 2006, 6:45AM EST

Wisconsin's revenue agency said Friday that it sent as many as 170,000 forms to taxpayers with mailing labels mistakenly printed with their Social Security numbers.

The state Department of Revenue was scrambling to alert taxpayers to be on the lookout for the mailings.

"We want to prevent any chance identity theft might occur," department spokeswoman Meredith Helgerson said. An agency news release included an apology to taxpayers and a statement that steps were being taken "to make sure that this will never happen again."

The misprinted labels, blamed on a computer error while they were being prepared, went to taxpayers who have used the basic Form 1, a long paper form for individuals, according to the department.

Those who filed their taxes with other forms, had a professional service prepare their taxes or filed electronically were not affected, she said.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8MB530O0.htm

[54anickel]

1. BASTARDS!!!

I just looked at ours and sure enough, there it is! Strangest thing is that they have not sent us any forms or booklets for a few years now. I was surprised when it showed up at all in the mail yesterday. I've done our taxes both ways, sometimes electronically, others long paper - but hadn't had the forms mailed to me until THIS year, of all years. I did the damned long paper form last year - guess it serves me right. :eyes:

I generally write to Feingold bitching about the abuse of SS numbers at least once a year. Everytime someone insists on getting it. One time it was in setting up an account for LP gas, another was for getting telephone service. My biggest gripe was job applications, especially the on-line ones that won't allow you to submit the application without the SS number filled in (won't take a 9 fill or 123.. fill either. Gotta love the UW system - for a while they would only accept on-line apps. You didn't need to fill in the SS # until you wanted to be considered for a posted job. :eyes:

Of course I also send him letters thanking him for the great job he's doing whenever he makes the news as well. I'm sure he gets sick of hearing from me.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Social Security Numbers should be on tax forms.

They SHOULDN'T be on credit reports or used by any private companies as unique IDs for purposes beyond those mandated by law.

Not that long ago SSNs were always on the pre-printed labels for Federal forms because it was convenient for the taxpayer and reduced the chance of transcription errors.

[uppityperson]

4. They are ONLY needed for tax purposes.

Told my phone company I wanted a pin, and my ss# was none of their beeswax. Got a bit huffy but did it. I'm glad medical insurance cos are finally switching them also.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Sadly, most insurance cos only do so when state or local law require it.

Or,under what I call the "California Rule," which is once CA or another big state like NY or TX requires something it's often easier for the company to adopt the same policy nationwide rather than tailor it for one chunk of the customer base.

I decline to provide it too whenever I can get away with it but some insurance companies still require it on applications, they just don't use it on external documents like insurance cards.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Computers don't make errors

The person that that did the mailing operation screwed up.

Any good computer operator would had done a test run. Both preview and printed.

[Stargazer99]

8. and still the Repubs want to privatize everything!

[Faygo Kid]

6. "Chance" identity theft that might occur?

Whether human or computer error or both, characterizing ID theft that will happen here as "chance" is a little like saying no one could imagine that the levees would break, or that we wouldn't be greeted as liberators in Iraq. There is no "chance" to this - ID theft will occur as a result.

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Doyle campaigned both times on the premise and promise

of reducing the number of state employees, and this goal has been attained through various ham-handed measures unbecoming a Democrat. One of the consequences of this was that effectiveness in state gov't functions, and morale among the surviving state employees, have plummeted. Things like this are becoming the norm among our demoralized public-sector workers.

OK, Cheeseheads. Now piss all over me for saying bad things about our Demopublican Gubbner.