The Federal Trade Commission has a few quick tips to preventing tax identity theft:
- Always protect your Social Security number or Medicare card number: don't give it out unless you have to, and always ask why it's needed, how it's going to be used, and how it will be stored. For information on your social security number and privacy, see our Social Security legal topic page and scroll towards the bottom of the page.
- Shred old taxes returns you're no longer required to keep, as well as draft returns, extra copies, and calculation sheets. See this IRS page on How long to keep records for more information.
- Ask for recommendations and research tax preparers before you turn your personal information over to them.
