The IRS is making changes in 2015 that aim to limit the number of fraudulent tax returns submitted. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), tax- and wage-related fraud was the most common type of identity theft reported from 2011 through 2013.

Identity theft is so common with tax refunds because people are able to steal social security numbers and use them to get a job or obtain a tax refund. It can be done early in the tax season and go unnoticed for long periods of time, which makes it harder to rectify.

Beginning next month, a single financial account or pre-paid debit card will only be allowed to receive three refunds. After the third refund, additional ones will automatically be sent via a check in the mail.

In a recently article on IdentityProtection.com, “IRS Imposes Direct Deposit Limits to Help Prevent Identity Theft,” the identity protection experts share four tips that can help protect you from identity theft.

• Leave your social security card in a safe place at home instead of carrying it around in your purse or wallet. Thieves can use your social security number to file a tax return or gain employment in your name, among other identity crimes.
• Don’t provide any unnecessary identifying information to businesses or online. If they ask for your social security number, ask why they need it, how it will be secured or if there is another identifier you can use.
• Identity thieves will often try to impersonate the IRS by contacting you and asking for information or payments. If you believe you have been contacted by someone pretending to be an IRS representative, contact the IRS immediately.
• The earlier you file your tax refund, the better. Once you’ve filed your return under your social security number, you limit the opportunity for a fraudster to file a return using your identity. In addition, the sooner you file, the sooner a scam can be detected.

For more information on how to protect yourself from identity theft, visit IdentityProtection.com.