GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Tax season is here, and there are a few weeks to get those taxes filed properly. Last week was the annual Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week
There are plenty of services available to help – but no matter what you do, filing early is a common tip.
“File taxes early, and do that before an identity thief gets to file them for you,” says Susan Bach of the Better Business Bureau, “They’ll file an income tax return on your behalf, make sure that they get a fat refund, and then run away with your money.”
Identity thieves only need your name, social security number, and birth date to file a fradulent tax return in your name. That’s why Bach recommends having legitimate help lined up before you file.
“Make sure that you use a reputable tax preparer, they are not all the same. So you should check them out first,” Bach tells WTAQ News, “Keep all of your personal information secure. Make sure that if you’re filing online that you use secure websites, that you have your virus protection and antivirus software up to date.”
But if someone gets a hold of your information before you can file, immediately reporting the case to the IRS and others institutions is a vital key in potentially getting your money – and identity – back on track.
Reach out to the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint. There are other things that you can do – a great place to start for things like that is Identitytheft.gov,” Bach says, “The IRS is never going to initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message, or any kind of social media request saying that there’s been an issue with your tax return. Scammer use that to then trick people into turning over personal information.”
Tax Day is just under two months away – being held on April 15th. If you have any questions or concerns about filing taxes or specific tax preparers, head to the BBB website.
