Tax Season: Tips to Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Tax season is a rough time for many people. Hours spent poring over tax forms? Headaches from wondering if you will get the refund that you need this year? No matter how prepared⁠—or unprepared⁠—you may feel for tax season, it’s most likely not your favorite part of the year.

So, when identity thieves use tax season as yet another way to try stealing your data and your dollars, it can easily seem like too much for you to deal with on your own. And you’re right! Nobody should have to fight identity theft by themselves.  

That’s why we at IDShield have laid out some helpful tips to help you stay safe from tax-related ID theft this year, as well as some pointers to make sure your tax refund doesn’t get stolen. Plus, find out how we can help protect and restore your identity!

Look out for these common scams.

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from identity theft is to educate yourself on the tactics that identity thieves typically use. Keep an eye out for any of these red flags that become more popular around tax season:

• Have you received a text or call claiming to be from a government entity, creating a sense of urgency that you confirm your Social Security number? Identity thieves want to use your SSN for themselves, so don’t hand over your important personal info without knowing exactly who is contacting you.
• Does an email, text, or call require you to pay your taxes in a specific way? This could mean that a scammer is looking to swipe your personal info off your credit card.
• Have you received a message that contains a link for you to click? Think twice before visiting any links that come to you in emails or texts, as they could lead to fake websites or malicious software that can steal your data.
• Does a mysterious message state that you have qualified for a tax refund, and you can claim your money simply by giving up your personal info? An identity thief will take your personal info and use it for their own advantage without handing over the promised refund.

Take these steps to help avoid ID theft.

The best way to stay safe from tax-related identity theft is to take early steps to protect yourself. Here are a few precautions to help ensure that you don’t fall prey to a thief during this tax season:

1. File your taxes early! Besides giving you peace of mind that you already finished the task, this also helps decrease the likelihood of identity thieves getting ahold of your private information later during the busiest, most chaotic part of tax season.
2. Don’t click links in emails or texts. If you think a message may be legitimate, search for the website in question on your internet browser instead of clicking any links contained in the message.
3. Know that the IRS will never contact you via text message or via private messages on social media. They will send letters in the mail to get in touch with you. If you need further information, you can visit their official website.
4. If you have hired someone to prepare your taxes, make sure you review the tax return before you sign it. Additionally, ensure that the tax professional has completed the form before you put your name on it.

Hit by identity theft? Here’s what you can do about it.

Even the best of preparation can’t always protect you from identity theft. If you do become the victim of tax-related ID theft, you don’t have to throw in the towel! Follow these tips to help soften the blow of identity theft.

1. Report identity theft to the IRS by calling their Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1 (800) 908-4490. You will need to fill out an affidavit verifying the incident. The IRS can then put an alert on your account.
2. Report the theft to local law enforcement and any other relevant government agencies.
3. Be ready to show copies of your tax returns, driver’s license, birth certificate, bills, and other identifying paperwork so that authorities can help prove your identity with these documents.
4. Alert the major credit bureaus and your bank or other financial institutions so they can watch out for suspicious activity or even freeze your accounts.
5. Change your passwords on important online accounts and close any accounts that you think may be affected or have been fraudulently created by the identity thief.
6. Stay informed and check in regularly with the IRS to see how your case is going.

Enter tax season with IDShield protection on your side.

Let IDShield be your provider for identity protection, monitoring, and restoration services. IDShield offers one-on-one consultation to answer your questions about how to stay safe during tax season. If identity theft does occur, our Licensed Private Investigators will work to restore your identity to its pre-theft status. We don’t make you deal with the stresses of identity theft by yourself⁠—not during tax season, and not during any other time of the year!

Take the next step!

• Learn 7 ways to detect a common scam claiming to be from the IRS.
• Check out the protection and restoration services that IDShield can offer you.

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Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (“PPLSI”) provides access to legal services offered by a network of provider law firms to PPLSI members through membership-based participation. PPLSI is not a law firm. Neither PPLSI nor its officers, employees or sales associates directly or indirectly provide legal services, representation, or advice. The information made available in this blog is meant to provide general information and is not intended to provide legal advice, render an opinion, or provide a recommendation as to a specific matter. The blog post is not a substitute for competent legal counsel from a licensed professional lawyer in the state or province where your legal issues exist, and you should seek legal counsel for your specific legal matter. Information contained in the blog may be provided by authors who could be a third-party paid contributor. All information by authors is accepted in good faith, however, PPLSI makes no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of such information.