Here we are in the middle of tax season and your personal, financial documents are front and center stage.  A key component of successfully growing better credit scores is protecting your information and identity.  Here are eight tips to protect yourself during tax season.

1) Keep your personal and tax information locked up.  Whether it’s at the office or at home, don’t leave your pile of tax documents laying out in plain sight.  Your W-2 or 1099 have your social security number on it, as do any year-end statements from banks or financial accounts regarding interest and dividends.

2) When you transport your tax information anywhere, keep it with you.  Don’t leave your briefcase or file folders in the vehicle in plain sight.  At the very least, lock them in your trunk.  Carrying them with you may seem inconvenient, but it is nothing compared to the inconvenience of dealing with identity theft.

3) Keep your computer security updated: your firewall, anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.  Many people store sensitive and tax data on their home computers so keeping the computer secure must be a priority.  When you e-file your taxes, be sure to use a strong, distinct password – NOT your usual password that’s on all your other accounts.  After your return is sent, you may want to store the tax file on a CD or flash drive that you can lock up, instead of leaving all that information on the computer.

4) You can do some background checks on the tax preparer you hire by checking with the Better Business Bureau;  make sure they are certified in their field, ask for references.  Ask how your tax information will be stored and how many people have access to it.  If stored electronically, will it be encrypted?  You have a right to ask these questions to safeguard your information.

5) Conduct your tax business with privacy.  Some businesses are set up in shopping centers or public areas, which are not typically sound proof or protected from a hopeful thief with binoculars.

6) Be sure to place your outgoing mail in a secure, locked box.  You may want to take your tax documents directly to a post office and place them in the indoor mail slot.  Thieves know that there is an enormous amount of personal information going into the mail system at this time of year, so minimizing risk by going directly to the source is a good idea.  At least use an official blue, USPS mail box toward the end of the day right before the last pickup so your info is not sitting there for very long.  And don’t leave your incoming mail unlocked and/or unattended any longer than necessary. 

7) After you file your taxes, shred any statements or paperwork you don’t need to keep.  Store your tax returns in a sturdy safe or locked file cabinet along with your other sensitive documents.  Most people have the required seven year’s worth of tax returns on hand and ID thieves know it, so keep them locked up and hard to get to.

8) There is an increase in scams at tax time.  If you receive any emails wanting your social security number or other financial information, you can send it to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov so they can investigate it.  Remember that the IRS does not send email notifications for electronic audits or refunds.  If something that says it is from the IRS seems suspicious, call their Taxpayers Advocate line at 877.777.4778.

You can get a complete list of Identity Theft Prevention tips from us for further reference.  Be sure to take a moment and subscribe to stay updated and get new information as it is posted.