Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week falls during the fourth workweek in January and is designed to inform everyone about the real problem of tax identity theft. Every year, hundreds of thousands of U.S. taxpayers report being victims of tax ID theft. Cybercriminals can steal a person’s identity to file tax returns and then steal their tax refunds even before the taxpayer can get their taxes done.

This can not only be extremely expensive for the taxpayer but can also cause a variety of other legal complications. That’s why it’s important for taxpayers to take the initiative to protect their identity and their federal tax return.

The History of Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

This holiday was first created during the early 21st century by the Federal Trade Commission. They launched a campaign to help consumers protect themselves and their families against identity theft and tax refund fraud. A quick visit to the Federal Trade Commission’s website will yield a bounty of online tools that will help consumers protect themselves.

Tips for Safeguarding Your Personal Information

It’s important for everyone to protect their own identity so that it isn’t stolen. Below are some tips that will help toward that goal.

• Never supply a company with your Social Security number unless it’s absolutely necessary.
• Make sure to shred any important documents.
• Check your credit report on a yearly basis.
• Report any cases of identity theft to local law enforcement and the IRS ID Theft Protection Unit.
• Never follow links in emails or text messages.
• File taxes early.

Observing Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week

Following the above steps, we recommend everyone take the time to ensure that their identity is secure and that no one can file a tax return under your name in order to receive the refund that you’re actually due. It’s also a good idea to spread the word about this holiday week using the hashtag #TaxIdentityTheftAwareness to encourage everyone else to protect their own identity.