---
title: File early to avoid tax identity theft - Brown Edwards
description: If you’re like many Americans, you may not start thinking about filing your tax return until the April 15 deadline (this year, April 18) is just a few weeks – or perhaps even just a few days – away. But […]
image: https://blog.becpas.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photodune-2963008-theft-concept-xs-1.jpg
---

[Twitter ** ](https://www.facebook.com/BrownEdwardsCPAs?utm_source=BE+Website&utm_medium=Website+Icon&utm_campaign=BE+Website+Social+Icon&utm_content=Facebook) [Facebook-f ** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/brown-edwards/?utm_source=BE+Website&utm_medium=Website+Icon&utm_campaign=BE+Website+Social+Icon&utm_content=LinkedIn) [Linkedin ** ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ReCSn6AFfdQiCUsH4oopA?utm_source=BE+Website&utm_medium=Website+Icon&utm_campaign=BE+Website+Social+Icon&utm_content=YouTube) [Youtube ** ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ReCSn6AFfdQiCUsH4oopA?utm_source=BE+Website&utm_medium=Website+Icon&utm_campaign=BE+Website+Social+Icon&utm_content=YouTube)

[ Client Portal ](https://becpas.sharefile.com/Authentication/Login)

[ Make A Payment ](https://becpas.com/payments/)

[ Request Proposal ](https://becpas.com/request-for-proposal/)

![](https://blog.becpas.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photodune-2963008-theft-concept-xs-1.jpg)

# File early to avoid tax identity theft

 Published by [ Brown Edwards ](https://blog.becpas.com/author/brownedwards) on  Jan 25, 2016 7:51:54 PM

If you’re like many Americans, you may not start thinking about filing your tax return until the April 15 deadline (this year, April 18) is just a few weeks – or perhaps even just a few days – away. But there’s another date you should keep in mind: January 19. That’s the date the IRS began accepting 2015 returns, and filing as close to that date as possible could protect you from tax identity theft.

**How filing early helps**

In this increasingly common scam, thieves use victims’ personal information to file fraudulent tax returns electronically and claim bogus refunds. When the real taxpayers file, they’re notified that they’re attempting to file duplicate returns.

Tax identity theft can cause major headaches to straighten out and significantly delay legitimate refunds. But if you file first, it will be the thief who’s filing the duplicate return, not you.

**Another key date**

Of course you need to have your W-2s and 1099s to file. So another key date to be aware of is February 1 – the deadline for employers to issue 2015 W-2s to employees and, generally, for businesses to issue 1099s to recipients of any 2015 interest, dividend or reportable miscellaneous income payments.

**An added bonus**

Let us know if you have questions about tax identity theft or would like help filing your 2015 return early. An added bonus of filing early, if you’ll be getting a refund, is enjoying that refund sooner.

[Back to Blog](https://blog.becpas.com)

## Related Articles

<https://blog.becpas.com/irs-extends-more-tax-deadlines-including-form-990-series-returns-and-notices>

## [IRS Extends More Tax Deadlines Including Form 990-Series Returns And Notices](https://blog.becpas.com/irs-extends-more-tax-deadlines-including-form-990-series-returns-and-notices)

 APRIL 15, 2020

[Read More ](https://blog.becpas.com/irs-extends-more-tax-deadlines-including-form-990-series-returns-and-notices)

<https://blog.becpas.com/havent-filed-your-2017-income-tax-return-yet-beware-of-these-pitfalls>

## [Haven’t Filed Your 2017 Income Tax Return Yet? Beware Of These Pitfalls](https://blog.becpas.com/havent-filed-your-2017-income-tax-return-yet-beware-of-these-pitfalls)

 The federal income tax filing deadline is slightly later than usual this year — April 17 — but it’s...

[Read More ](https://blog.becpas.com/havent-filed-your-2017-income-tax-return-yet-beware-of-these-pitfalls)

<https://blog.becpas.com/individual-tax-calendar-key-deadlines-remainder-2017>

## [Individual Tax Calendar: Key Deadlines For The Remainder Of 2017](https://blog.becpas.com/individual-tax-calendar-key-deadlines-remainder-2017)

 While April 15 (April 18 this year) is the main tax deadline on most individual taxpayers’ minds,...

[Read More ](https://blog.becpas.com/individual-tax-calendar-key-deadlines-remainder-2017)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Brown Edwards",
    "url" : "https://blog.becpas.com/author/brownedwards"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2021-06-01T21:24:54.611Z",
  "datePublished" : "2016-01-26T00:51:54.000Z",
  "headline" : "File early to avoid tax identity theft - Brown Edwards",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.becpas.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/photodune-2963008-theft-concept-xs-1.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.becpas.com/file-early-avoid-tax-identity-theft",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.becpas.com/hubfs/2021%20BE-Logo-4color-oldgold-3.png"
    },
    "name" : "Brown Edwards & Company, LLP"
  }
}
```