Texas Employment Identity Theft Attorney

Most people picture identity theft as a stolen credit card or a hacked bank account. Employment identity theft looks nothing like that, and it can be far harder to detect. It happens when someone uses your Social Security number, name, or other personal information to get a job, often because they cannot pass a background check, lack work authorization, or are trying to avoid wage garnishment or child support obligations.

You may not find out until a letter arrives from the IRS about wages you never earned, or your Social Security earnings record shows an employer you have never heard of.

At Sharmin & Sharmin, P.A., our Texas identity theft attorneys represent Texas victims of employment identity theft who are dealing with the fallout of phantom tax liability, damaged credit, and government agencies that are slow to fix records that were never accurate to begin with.

With over 20 years of experience litigating under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, we know how to trace the damage to its source and hold the responsible parties accountable. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis, so you owe nothing unless we win.

Call 1-844-SHARMIN or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation.

The Sharmin & Sharmin Advantage in Texas Employment Identity Theft

Proven trial experience in FCRA litigation. Employment identity theft cases require specialized knowledge that general consumer or criminal defense firms simply do not have.
Selective case acceptance. We take on a limited number of cases so that every client gets the attention their situation deserves.
Contingency fee representation. There are no attorney fees unless we win.
No office visit required. We work with clients throughout Texas remotely, with a response within 24 hours.
Decades of results holding institutions accountable — not just filing disputes, but taking cases to court when necessary.

What Is Employment Identity Theft in Texas?

Employment identity theft occurs when someone else uses your identifying information to obtain a job or establish work eligibility under your name. Unlike financial identity theft, there is often no new credit card or loan to spot on a credit report.

Instead, the first sign is usually a mismatch between what you actually earned and what has been reported to the government in your name.

Potential warning signs of Texas employment identity theft include:

Receiving an IRS notice about unreported income or wages
A W-2 or 1099 arriving from a company you never worked for
A Social Security Administration earnings statement showing wages you didn’t earn
Denial of an unemployment claim because “your” benefits were already paid out, or a fraudulent claim filed in your name
Sudden trouble passing a background or employment verification check because of a record that doesn’t belong to you
New negative entries on your credit report tied to debt someone else incurred while using your identity

What Personal Information Is Commonly Used for Employment Identity Theft?

Employment identity theft typically starts with a stolen Social Security number. In most cases, that is all the thief needs to fill out employment paperwork in your name. Other personal details that are frequently used alongside the SSN include:

Full legal name
Date of birth
Driver’s license number
Previous home addresses

Once the thief has enough information to pass a basic employment screening, they can begin working under your identity while all wages and tax obligations are reported to the IRS under your SSN.

What Are the Warning Signs of Texas Employment Identity Theft?

Employment identity theft often goes undetected until it triggers a problem with your taxes or government benefits. Warning signs to watch for include:

A notice from the IRS about unreported income or a tax return you did not file
A W-2 form from an employer you have never worked for
A Social Security earnings statement showing wages from an unfamiliar job
A denial of unemployment benefits based on employment records you do not recognize
An unexpected reduction in your tax refund

It is worth investigating immediately if any of these situations come up. The longer employment identity theft goes unaddressed, the more complicated it becomes to resolve.

How Does Someone Use a Texas Stolen Identity to Obtain Employment?

The process is straightforward. The thief provides your Social Security number and personal details on their hiring paperwork. The employer then reports all wages earned to the IRS under your SSN. In many cases, the employer has no idea the worker’s identity is stolen because the documents appear legitimate on their face.

This is most common in industries that rely on high-turnover labor and may not conduct thorough verification. The victim usually finds out only when the IRS flags unreported income or a discrepancy surfaces on their tax return.

How Employment Identity Theft Damages Texas Victims

Employment identity theft can go undiscovered for months or years, and often surfaces only when the IRS or Social Security Administration flags a discrepancy. By then, the consequences can already be compounding.

The IRS may treat wages earned by the identity thief as your unreported income. You could be responsible for back taxes and penalties for money you never received. The Social Security Administration’s record of your earnings can become permanently distorted, which can eventually affect the retirement or disability benefits you are entitled to.

If the fraud also touches your credit, through resulting debt, collection accounts, or fraudulent applications, and the credit bureaus fail to investigate your dispute properly, you may have a claim under the FCRA.

Texas victims applying for jobs, housing, or loans can find themselves fighting a financial and legal identity that was never theirs.

Can Employment Identity Theft Affect Your Taxes or Social Security Benefits?

Yes, and the impact can be significant. When someone works under your SSN, their wages are reported to the IRS as your income. That can result in:

An unexpected tax bill for income you never earned
A reduced refund because the IRS believes you underreported your earnings
An IRS audit triggered by the discrepancy between what you reported and what was reported under your SSN
Inaccurate Social Security earnings records, which can affect the amount of benefits you are eligible to receive when you retire

These issues can take months to resolve if they are not addressed early with the proper documentation.

What Should You Do After Discovering Employment Identity Theft?

Once you realize someone has been working under your identity, taking action quickly can help limit the damage. Important first steps include:

Filing IRS Form 14039, the Identity Theft Affidavit, to alert the IRS
Requesting a copy of your Social Security earnings statement to identify any wages that do not belong to you
Filing an identity theft report with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov
Filing a police report with your local law enforcement agency
Placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit file through the major credit bureaus

From here, reach out to our attorneys for a free consultation. We can advise you on how best to proceed at that time.

Which Agencies Should You Contact About Employment Identity Theft?

Several agencies play a role in addressing employment identity theft, and you may need to contact more than one depending on your situation:

The IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit for tax-related issues
The Social Security Administration to review and correct your earnings record
The Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov to create a recovery plan
The Texas Workforce Commission if fraudulent unemployment claims have been filed in your name
Local law enforcement to file a police report documenting the theft

Each agency handles a different piece of the problem, so having documentation from one can help move things along with the others.

What Evidence Can Help Prove Employment Identity Theft?

The more robust your documentation, the easier it will be to resolve disputes with the IRS and other agencies. Key evidence to preserve includes:

IRS notices or letters referencing income you did not earn
W-2 forms from employers you have no connection to
Your Social Security earnings statement showing unfamiliar wages
Your FTC identity theft report and police report
Credit reports showing accounts or inquiries you did not authorize
Any correspondence with agencies you’ve been in contact with related to the theft

Keep copies of everything in a secure location. This documentation forms the backbone of any legal claim and will be needed throughout the resolution process.

Why You Need a Texas Employment Identity Theft Attorney

Untangling employment identity theft means dealing with multiple agencies at once, including the IRS, the Social Security Administration, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the credit bureaus.

Each of these agencies has its own timeline and procedures for handling your claim. Most consumers have neither the time nor the leverage to get these institutions to move quickly.

When the credit bureaus or furnishers involved fail to correct inaccurate information after a proper dispute, that failure can become the basis for a federal lawsuit under the FCRA.

Our attorneys know how to build that case, gather the necessary records, and pursue real damages in court when the responsible parties won’t fix the problem on their own.

Schedule Your Free Consult with a Texas Employment Identity Theft Attorney Today

If you’ve received an unexpected IRS notice, discovered unfamiliar wages on your Social Security earnings record, or found your credit damaged by someone else’s employment fraud, you don’t have to sort it out alone.

The Texas consumer protection attorneys at Sharmin & Sharmin, P.A. will review your situation at no charge, explain your rights under the FCRA, and give you an honest assessment of whether you have a case worth pursuing. No office visit required. We respond within 24 hours.

Call 1-844-SHARMIN or contact us online. There are no attorney fees unless we win.