Key Takeaways from the 2022 Summer IRS Security Summit

 

5 Tips for Avoiding Tax Related Identity Theft

The IRS Security Summit is emphasizing the following steps that tax professionals should do to help prevent identity thieves from stealing their clients’ data and their clients’ from becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. Sign up clients for Identity Protection PINs (IP PIN)
   The IP PIN serves as a critical defense against identity thieves. Now that anyone can opt to get an IP PIN, tax preparers should inform their clients about the IRS Identity Theft Protection PIN Opt-In Program and encourage their clients to sign up for one. Read More
2. Email Spear Phishing Scams
   The Security Summit partners continue to see instances where tax preparers have been vulnerable to identity theft phishing emails that pose as potential clients. The identity thieves use these emails to trick the preparer into opening email links or attachments that allow them to infect their computer systems and potentially steal client information. Read More
3. Know the Tell-tale Signs of Identity Theft
   A common concern that the IRS hears from tax preparers is that they did not immediately recognize the signs of data theft. Security Summit partners urge tax preparers to learn the signs of data theft so that they can react quickly to protect their clients and themselves. Read More
4. Create a Security Plan
   The Security Summit partners have created a new sample security plan designed to help tax professionals, especially those with smaller practices, protect their data and information. Read More
5. Protection for Remote Workers
   With many people working from home, the IRS and Security Summit partners urge individuals to use a virtual private network (VPN) to securely conduct business. Read More

For more information on the 2022 IRS Security Summit, click here or on the button below.