A new Shred-it report[pdf], shows that many taxpayers or not taking the necessary steps to protect their tax information.
45% of taxpayers do not store their tax documents in a secure manner, instead keeping papers in a box, desk drawer or unlocked cabinet at home or work, while 19% do not shred papers containing tax information or other sensitive data before disposing of them. In addition, 44% of the 37% of people who rely on a certified professional to prepare their taxes have no idea how that person will store or dispose of their personal information.
The survey also found that 7% of people have experienced tax fraud or tax identity theft, while 38% are worried about falling victim to this type of crime.
Read more: 45% of taxpayers do not securely store tax documents
