So, it is definitely tax time. We are all getting our paperwork, making appointments with accountants, setting up the software. While taxes are no fun for us, they can be a gold mine for identity thieves.
The information on your tax forms is highly valuable to the unscrupulous. These forms contain so much personal financial information; they should almost be carried in an armored vehicle. Therefore, it is critical you guard this information well.
Things to watch out for include:
1. The cheap and fast large-scale tax preparer setup. These are often set up around this time in high traffic areas like malls. They are usually held in large rooms with multiple people milling around. Even if the workers are ethical, this is the haven for those looking to steal your identity.
2. The friendly neighbor who also does taxes preparation out of her home. Certainly these aren’t always bad, but be very cautious with side tax businesses.
3. Trash. Watch what you throw away, especially around tax time. Thieves know that digging through the trash is most worth it at tax time. Always shred all tax documents, even your old ones.
4. Mail. Same deal, this is the number one time to steal mail. If you haven’t received all your tax forms by now, better start calling. As it is possible they were stolen. When it is refund time, the same situation… they want to steal that big check!
5. Fake tax forms or audit requests. Occasionally you might receive a fake email or even a letter that looks like it is from the IRS. They want to check or verify some information. First, if it is an email, it is not from the IRS. If it is a document, like postcard or letter, call the IRS customer service number found in your tax booklet to verify the authenticity.
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