Your taxes may be done but don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. Make sure to protect yourself from tax identity fraud now and in the future.
You may think that tax identity theft couldn’t happen to you because you keep your documents safe. However, tax identity theft is a serious issue and the bad guys are resourceful. Thieves will do anything from digging through your garbage to pretending to a part of a legitimate company, government agency, medical office or bank to try and get your personal information.
Being proactive is the best protection. Follow these easy steps to help prevent tax identify theft from happening to you:
1) Take the time to dig up tax documents from three or more years ago and shred them now. (The typical audit period the IRS uses is three years from when you file your return).
2) Copies of your actual tax returns and other documents that you do need to keep should be safely stored in a secure location.
3) Regularly shred any confidential documents or mail you don’t need throughout the year.
Think you may have been a victim of tax-related identity theft? Know the signs:
1) Receiving an email, text or social media message from what seems to be the IRS. If you get an email that claims to be from the IRS, do not reply or click on any links. Instead, forward it to phishing@irs.gov. The IRS does not start contact with a taxpayer by these methods.
2) Receiving notice from the IRS stating one of the following:
a. An employer you don’t know paid you.
b. More than one tax return was filed using your SSN.
Read more about what to do next if one of these signs happens to you.
Photo from Macwagen
