National Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has declared this week Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. According to their press release, 43% of their identity theft complaints in 2012 were tax ID thefts. Compare that to just over 24% in 2011 and it's apparent why the FTC has declared Tax ID theft a growing problem.



Go to the FTC Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week page for FAQs, webinars in English and Spanish, educational materials, a Twitter live chat, and more.

Here's the tax tip for the day:

Tax season is almost here, and identity thieves are already scheming to get a tax refund. To help educate you about tax identity theft, we're taking part in Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. This week we'll post tips to help you lessen the chance you'll be a victim and learn what to do if you are. The first tip? File early in the tax season — if you can — to get your refund before identity thieves do. When you file, make sure you use a secure internet connection or mail your tax return directly from the post office to make it more difficult for thieves to get their hands on your personal information.