I owe this year. I owed last year (kids grown and gone, and Army Retirement pay has my withholdings screwed up).

Question: With all the fraud consisting of S O Bs filing other peoples taxes (using their SSN) to steal their refund, is it better that I owe? Will it keep me from being ripped off? What do you think?

You bring up an interesting point. If they file for a refund and you actually owe, the clowns at the IRS might send the money without confirming anything. My luck they'd expect me to reimburse them.