The massive Equifax breach could be a real pain come tax season.

Consumers should start thinking ahead to tax season, when criminals could potentially use those stolen Social Security numbers to file fraudulent tax returns and hold up refunds.

WSB Consumer expert Clark Howard says he is very worried about tax filing season next year.

He says a lot of the ways the IRS prevented tax ID theft are now not going to work because of the Equifax data breach.

"I'm afraid that criminals are going to be able to drive a Mack truck through the security systems the IRS has in place," says Howard.

He adds that you stand a good chance a criminal will try to file a claim using your identity. He says the result of that is, “Your tax refund will be delayed typically 10 to 14 months."

Howard says the one thing you should do today is reduce the withholding at your work place. He says by doing this, if you end up having to wait for a refund, it is only a small amount you are waiting on.