What steps can taxpayers take to protect themselves from identity theft in filing season?

• A. Postpone filing until identity theft risk passes
• B. Use secure portals, file early, monitor notices, and be cautious with personal data
• C. Share personal data widely to verify identity
• D. Ignore suspicious notices to avoid panic

Answer: (B)

Protecting tax information during filing season relies on practical steps that reduce risk and help catch problems early. Using secure portals ensures your data is transmitted and stored safely, protecting it from interception. Filing early shrinks the window for someone to file a fraudulent return using your information, making it harder for thieves to impersonate you. Monitoring notices from the IRS and your tax account helps you detect unusual activity quickly so you can act fast. Being cautious with personal data means guarding your Social Security number and other sensitive details, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication where possible, and avoiding sharing private information through insecure channels or unreliable sources.

Other options don’t fit because delaying filing can cause penalties and isn’t a reliable protection, sharing personal data broadly increases risk, and ignoring suspicious notices prevents timely detection and response.