Tips on how to keep Tax Time from becoming ID Theft Trouble

March 24, 2010 – 2:14 pm

Tax time can be a miserable time for some. Think of how much worse it will be owing the IRS and being the victim of identity theft. That’s exactly what many people experience every tax season due to some of the choices they make when working on their taxes. In fact, tax season can be an identity thief’s happiest time of the year.

There are a few ways to help keep your information safe during tax time. To start, keep close tabs on any P2P (or peer-to-peer) networks. Programs like Kazaa and LimeWire can allow strangers to download vital information directly from your computer. Some people mistakenly place their tax information in shared folders or allow P2P programs full reign of their hard drive. If a user searches for “tax return” it can pull up your taxes on your PC. Be extremely cautious when using these programs.

Be secure. There are plenty of ways to electronically file your tax return. When the time comes, make sure your browser is secure. An easy way to tell this is by looking at your browser’s URL address. It should say “https” instead of simply “http.” Transmitting information through the normal “http” address allows just about anyone to pick it up.

Mail fraud is also something to watch out for. Instead of mailing your return to a local office, take a short trip and turn it in in person instead.

Finally, make sure you take proactive measures to help protect yourself from identity theft. Services like LifeLock can help safeguard your information and, if the worst somehow happens, can be vital in helping you track down and fix the source.

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