As we move into the final stretch of the year, it can only mean one thing: Tax season is almost here. And that means fraudsters are getting ready to launch their schemes and the Internal Revenue Service is not immune to the activities of scam artists, including identity theft.

The agency offers several helpful tips to ensure you don’t become a victim when filing your income tax return.

“If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, continue to pay your taxes and file your tax return, even if you must file a paper return,” the agency said in a section of the irs.gov website focused on tax scams.

The first step is to know the signs of identity theft when it comes to filing a tax return, and that is not always easy.

“You may not know you’re a victim of identity theft until you’re notified by the IRS of a possible issue with your return,” the IRS said.

According to the IRS website, consumers and business owners should be alert to possible tax-related identity theft if:

You get a letter from the IRS inquiring about a suspicious tax return that you did not file.

You can’t e-file your tax return because of a duplicate Social Security number.

You get a tax transcript in the mail that you did not request.

You get an IRS notice that an online account has been created in your name.

You get an IRS notice that your existing online account has been accessed or disabled when you took no action.

You get an IRS notice that you owe additional tax or refund offset, or that you have had collection actions taken against you for a year you did not file a tax return.

IRS records indicate you received wages or other income from an employer you didn’t work for.

You’ve been assigned an employer identification number, but you did not request an EIN.

The IRS said the agency will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text or social media to request personal or financial information; will never call taxpayers with threats of lawsuits or arrests and does not call, email, or text to request taxpayers’ identity protection PINs.

SOURCE: U.S. Internal Revenue Service