Who looks forward to tax season? Identity thieves.

In 2018, identity thieves stole over $9.69 billion from taxpayers and the IRS through fraudulent tax returns.

Tax identity theft occurs when a fraudster uses your personal information to file a fraudulent tax return and claim your tax refund as their own. This crime frequently occurs very early in the year, as thieves want to make sure the IRS receives their phony return before your real one arrives. That’s why it’s wise to start thinking sooner, rather than later, about what you can do to protect your identity (and your refund) this tax season.

File as early as possible.

The earlier you file, the lower your risk of an identity thief filing before you and claiming your refund. You may not always know if your personal information has been compromised. It is wise take this precautionary step even if you haven’t seen any red flags.

Review your credit report.

You can obtain a free credit report from each of the three major bureaus once a year. That means you can get a report every 4 months if you time it right. This is a good idea to do regularly and will help you ensure that any fraudulent activity is caught quickly.

Practice good password habits.

Having different passwords for each of your accounts, changing your passwords regularly, and avoiding using personal information such as names and birthdates are all ways you can make your passwords more secure.

While taking these steps will lower your risk of becoming a victim, there is no foolproof way to prevent identity theft, tax or otherwise. The best way to protect yourself is to make sure you’ll be supported (and reimbursed) if it happens to you. Zander Identity Theft Solutions is the smarter, more affordable way to protect yourself. With $1 million in stolen funds and expense reimbursement, proactive monitoring and alerts, and free coverage for children on our family plan, we are truly here to support and protect your family.