Taxes. Love them or hate them you’ve got to file them. Make this tax season a little less stressful by keeping your personal information safe from bad actors by following the tips below.
- While the procrastinator inside all of us is saying, “You’ve got time, no need to rush on doing your taxes!”, it’s time to ignore that inner voice. File your taxes as soon as you can- this will get you ahead of any bad actors trying to use your information to file and claim your tax return.
- If using platforms such as TurboTax or H&R Block, be sure to turn on two-factor authentication for stronger security protection against scammers.
- Don’t trash your important and personal papers, shred them! When you decide it’s time to get rid of your previous tax records, use a shredder or take advantage of local community Shred Days. Chelsea Groton offers six throughout the year, with three in the spring and three in the fall. Mark your calendars for the upcoming Spring Community Shred Dates and visit our Events page to keep an eye on our Fall schedule too.
- May 3rd – Community Shred Day, Center Groton Branch, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 1319 Gold Star Highway, Groton, CT
- May 31st – Community Shred Day, Norwich Westside Branch, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 444 West Main Street, Norwich, CT
- June 14th – Community Shred Day, North Stonington Branch, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, 391 Norwich Westerly Road, North Stonington, CT
If, when you try to file, you are told a tax return has already been filed or income is seen from a different employer, it’s time to act quickly as you are likely a victim of tax identity theft. Communicate immediately with the IRS by reporting to IdentityTheft.gov. Doing so will create an FTC Identity Theft Report, an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit, and a personal recovery plan.
Stay vigilant and up to date on scammer tactics. Knowing this information will help you identify red flags. And be sure to report scammers, as doing so will prevent others from being victims. Check out IRS’s full list of common tax scams.
