Which action is NOT recommended to protect against identity theft during the filing season?

• A. File early
• B. Use secure portals
• C. Monitor notices
• D. Share passwords with non-authorized entities

Answer: (D)

Protecting identity during filing season comes from using secure channels and staying vigilant, while avoiding practices that expose your credentials.

Filing early helps reduce the window for someone to file a fraudulent return using your information, giving you a head start to verify what’s happening and to resolve issues before deadlines pass.

Using secure portals means sticking to official, encrypted systems for filing and communication. This minimizes the risk of data being intercepted or accessed by unauthorized people, unlike open email or untrusted sites.

Monitoring notices involves regularly checking your tax accounts and any notices from the tax agency. Early detection of suspicious activity lets you act quickly to stop fraud and correct errors.

The action to avoid is sharing passwords with non-authorized entities. Sharing credentials creates a direct opportunity for someone else to access your personal information and tax data, which can lead to identity theft. Keep strong, unique passwords, use two-factor authentication where available, and never disclose passwords to anyone or through insecure channels. If you suspect you’ve been asked for credentials by a scammer, treat it as fraudulent and report it.