Claim your IRS.gov account before anyone else does

There are lots of things you might rush to claim–a domain name in your name, a trademark, a winning lottery ticket–but an online account with the IRS probably doesn’t come to mind first. It should, though. Especially now that it’s tax season, drop everything for a bit and take five minutes to set up your account on IRS.gov.

Security expert Brian Krebs explains how surprisingly easy it is for identity thieves to create an account in your name if you haven’t already done so, and with that account get your personal information, tax transcripts, and other data, such as your W2 information. Armed with that information, they could file a fraudulent return in your name.

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