Secure Your Data for a Worry-Free Tax Season

Tax season brings with it a unique set of challenges when it comes to protecting your sensitive personal information online. Not only do cyber criminals try to hack databases and intercept emails, but they also attempt to impersonate the IRS, scamming everyday taxpayers out of their personal information. Taking proactive security measures helps reduce the chances of falling victim, as no one wants to discover that someone else has filed a tax return in their name. A comprehensive identity theft protection service like LifeLock provides you with the ability to stay one step ahead of potential disasters during tax season and beyond.

Put a Lock on Your Sensitive Data

When tax season rolls around each year, we share documents loaded with data that cybercriminals desire most, such as social security numbers, names, birthdates, and addresses. In the wrong hands, an SSN can be used to apply for loans and open credit cards in your name, among other forms of identity theft. 

LifeLock by Norton(Opens in a new window) watches for use of your personal information, to help you keep stock of if someone has access to your sensitive personal information. With a Standard membership, LifeLock scans the dark web for your sensitive data, notifies you if it detects that someone uses your social security details, and keeps you updated on potential data breaches.†† If you’re looking for an extra security boost, an Advantage or Ultimate Plus membership will alert you when someone attempts to apply for a bank account with your personal information. The advanced memberships also offer social media monitoring, a new feature to keep your social media safer by detecting account takeovers, risky activity, and inappropriate content. If your data is exposed, LifeLock works to detect threats and provides next-step solutions to help protect against threats.

Avoid Scammers

Digital filing is a great time-saving option for taxpayers, and it’s more cost-effective too––no paper forms, no postage, and no extra fees! Plus, you can easily keep track of the status of your return. Whether you’re using a self-service platform to file your own taxes or enlisting the help of an accountant, make sure that your source is verified and that you don’t fall victim to an impersonator. 

With the rise of smishing(Opens in a new window), the text message version of phishing, it’s also important to know how the IRS contacts taxpayers. If the IRS needs to reach you urgently, they’ll send you a paper notice using the U.S. Postal Service, which may not seem urgent by today’s standards. They won’t try to get a hold of you with robocalls, texts, or send messages on social media. Likewise, they won’t demand immediate payment using prepaid cards. 

Plan for the Worst

If you plan for the worst, you will be better positioned to combat any potential exposure. Because cyber threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated every day, data breaches are unfortunately still a real possibility, even after shoring up your defenses. In the event that you do become a victim of identity theft, LifeLock(Opens in a new window) offers a dedicated restoration specialist based in the US to work with you directly, providing protection from identity theft consequences. For added peace of mind, all LifeLock plans also include $1 million towards coverage for lawyers and other experts when needed to resolve identity theft cases.†† 

Tax season already stresses most people out, but worrying about the security aspect of it doesn’t have to add to your woes. LifeLock acts like a security system, monitoring your data in the places you can’t, providing valuable peace of mind. Enrolling in LifeLock only takes a few minutes, which is nothing in comparison to the time and effort a victim of identity theft would need to spend on mitigating the potential damage caused by successful identity theft. 

Disclaimer: ††No one can prevent all identity theft. LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses. Coverage for lawyers and experts, up to $1 million for all plans, if needed. Benefits under the Master Policy issued and covered by United Specialty Insurance Company (State National Insurance Company, Inc. for NY State members). Policy terms, conditions and exclusions at: LifeLock.com/legal.