Protecting Yourself from Tax Related Identity Theft – Did You Know?

Tax related ID theft is when someone uses your information (name, SSN, etc.) to file a false tax return and claim a fraudulent refund. The number one thing you can do to prevent this type of ID theft is to file early and file electronically. The IRS is “first-come, first-served”, meaning whoever files first, electronically, will be the only electronic return accepted. All others for that SSN will be blocked and must file manually. This can lead to big delays for your refund. Filing season began January 24 this year.