DID YOU RECEIVE A 1099-G BUT DID NOT FILE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT?
Unfortunately, the Colorado Department of Labor had a large number of fraudulent unemployment claims this year. Even after taxpayers have reported this fraud, many are still receiving Form 1099-G(s). Form 1099-G is the form used to report any income received through unemployment, similar to a W-2 for unemployment benefits. What should you do if you receive a Form 1099-G but did not file an unemployment claim?
According to the Colorado Department of Labor:
If you have received a 1099-G document from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment but did not file a claim for unemployment benefits, you may be a victim of identity theft. Unfortunately, fraudsters steal or purchase private information from illicit data brokers and use that information to file fraudulent unemployment claims. While we have a sophisticated multi-factor program in place to flag suspected fraud, no system is perfect.
Here’s what you should do if you’ve received a 1099-G document from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment but did not file a claim for unemployment benefits:
- Report it to us using the Report Invalid 1099 form.
- Contact the three consumer credit bureaus and put a fraud alert on your name and Social Security Number (SSN). Credit Bureau Contact Info: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 | Experian: 1-888-397-3742 | TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
- Create a file where you can keep records of this identity theft in one place.
Once you follow the link above to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment website, follow the prompts on the report form and submit in order to notify the state of the issue. You should report the fraudulent Form 1099-G even if you have reported the fraud elsewhere and maintain all related records.
If you have any additional questions or need assistance, our Team is here to help.