Tax return fraud has been on the rise over the last few years. We hear about fraudsters filing a false return using someone else's identity, and having the refund redirected to their own account. To combat this type of fraud, the IRS is taking steps such as sending out a letter requesting people call them or log in online to verify their identity. Sometimes these letters are random, but other times they are triggered by a change in your tax return, such as a larger refund than usual. One way to protect your identity and your tax account is by requesting the IRS generate an Identity Protection PIN. This is a 6-digit number the IRS sends each December that must be entered on a tax return for it to be eFiled. In the past you had to be a victim of identity fraud to request one of these PIN's. Now, the IRS is offering to assign one to anyone who wants one. You can request an IP PIN at irs.gov, just search for identity protection PIN and follow the instructions. If you have gotten an IP PIN  in the past, remember to watch the mail over the next couple of months for the letter containing the number, and be sure to save it in a safe place. If you don't receive the letter by the end of January, go online to irs.gov, because your tax return can't be filed without it.