By TurboTax Make sure your refund ends up in your hands and not that of a thief by practicing a few simple habits that can protect your personal information. 1. Leave your Social Security card homeTax-return identity theft almost always involves a stolen Social Security number (SSN), since the IRS and state tax authorities use these numbers to identify taxpayers. The thief uses your stolen SSN to file a fraudulent tax return early in tax season—before you’re likely to file—and then pockets the refund.To prevent identity theft, leave your Social Security card at home in a safe place and don’t c…