If you're one of those very responsible types who keeps all your financial information organized and up-to-date, you might very well be ready to file your 2008 taxes as soon as your W2 form comes in. Just remember that phishers and other online scammers might be getting an early crack at tax season as well. Here are some tips to make sure your personal information doesn't fall into the wrong hands.

First off, the Internal Revenue Service will never send you an unsolicited email about your taxes. Never. If you get an email purporting to be from the IRS, don't even open it. Junk it.

Second, if you're e-filing, take common-sense precautions. Don't file at an Internet cafe, a library, or somebody else's computer. File from your own computer, preferably at home, and make sure your home wireless network is password-protected and encrypted.

If you file by mail, drop off your tax return at the post office. Leaving your tax return in your mailbox makes it that much easier for identity thieves to find what they're looking for.

And if you get a call from someone claiming to be an IRS representative and inquiring about your financial information —hang up. Just as the IRS doesn't contact people by email, they don't contact people by phone, either. If they have a legitimate inquiry, they'll contact you by mail.

(Of course none of the above cautions apply at all to either professional tax preparers, or volunteer preparers endorsed by the IRS such as the AARP Tax-Aide system).