As many begin filing their taxes, the Better Business Bureau is offering tips to avoid tax scams.

They say to watch for impersonation, mailing and email phishing scams.

They say the best way to avoid tax identity theft is to file your taxes as early as possible before a scammer can use your identity to file a fake return.

Use an Identity Protection PIN from the IRS before you file your return, and make sure you are on the real IRS website.

Know that the IRS would contact you by mail before contacting via phone or email, and when in doubt, contact the IRS to confirm any contact you receive is legitimate.

If you believe you could be a victim of tax identity theft, contact the IRS.