. >> reporter: yes, doing your taxes is a pain but don't put peggy shay and her husband are just some of the many victims of a growing tax scam aimed at stealing refunds. >> last year, when we filed our taxes, the irs had flagged our account because someone had filed a phony return under my husband's social security number. the best way to keep it from happening to you, file early. as the irs told us last year, beat the scammers to the punch and you'll get your refund sooner and considering that roughly 2/3 of americans get a refund and the average is for about $2700, that part is good. even if you owe money, there are still some advantages to filing early. >> that way, you'll have plenty of time to figure out where the money is going to come from or to set up a payment schedule. this year, you have to pay by april 18th. and you don't want to be late and incur any penalties or fines. >> another benefit to getting able to get a better deal on college financial aid. money. no matter when you file, don't rush through it. check accuracy to avoid amending the return later. that could trigg