Tax Season and Identity Theft

DAILY DOT COM - According to the IRS, more than 147 million tax returns are expected to be filed in the United States this year.

Tax returns include some of a consumers’ most sensitive financial information and with tax season well underway, it can be a prime time for identity theft.

The agency says whether you are filing your returns online or through the mail, it's worth a few reminders to keep personal information safe and away from identity thieves:

• Don't carry documents with your social security number of individual taxpayer identification number
• Or give that information out over the phone, through the mail or over the internet unless you initiated the conversation
• Make sure the computer you're using has updated anti-spam and virus software and security patches
• And no matter how busy you are, avoid working on your taxes over a public Wi-Fi connection

How do you know if your tax records have been affected?

• More than one tax return filed in your name,
• You have a balance due, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for a year you didn't file a tax return, or
• IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer unknown to you.

If you get a tax notice and think it's because of identity theft, contact the IRS immediately.  The agency says it's doubled the number of employees working on identity theft cases in the last year.

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S.  Some of the most common types of ID thefts are: financial ID theft, child ID theft , and social networking .  

The IRS has put together a list of the Top 13 Things every tax payer should know about ID theft, so consumers can avoid becoming a victim.