Every tax professional in the United States -- whether a member of a major accounting firm or an owner of a one-person storefront -- is a potential target for highly sophisticated, well-funded and technologically adept cybercriminals around the world. Their objective: to steal your clients’ data so they can file fraudulent tax returns that better impersonate their victims and are harder to detect. Their tactics: using email, the phone or other means to trick you into giving up computer passwords, e-Services passwords, to steal your EFINs or CAF numbers or even to take remote control of your entire computer system. Protecting client data also is the law. Federal Trade Commission regulations require professional tax preparers to create and enact security plans to protect client data. Review IRS Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data PDF, for details and security recommendations. Also, see IRS Publication 5293, Data Theft Resource Guide for Tax Professionals PDF, for a roundup of IRS.gov information. No one can fight this crime alone. It takes all of us, working together. That is why the Security Summit - the unprecedented partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies, and the private-sector tax industry - came together to form a united and coordinated front against this common enemy. And, that’s why the Summit partners – through the “Protect Your Clients, Protect Yourself” awareness campaign - are asking tax professionals nationwide to join this effort. Stay connected To stay up to date on the latest threats and scams, bookmark and follow this page. You also should register for e-News for Tax Professionals or, if you are an e-Services user, register for Quick Alerts to stay atop latest news and threats. Follow us on social media at Twitter.com/IRStaxpros, Twitter.com/IRSNews and Facebook.com/IRStaxpros. Events and campaigns Working Virtually: Protecting Tax Data at Home and at Work, Summer 2020 Dirty Dozen Tax Scams Taxes. Security. Together. Prior Year Campaigns National Tax Security Awareness Week, Dec. 2-6, 2019 Tax Security 2.0 – The “Taxes-Security-Together” Checklist, Summer 2019 National Tax Security Awareness Week, Dec. 3-7, 2018 Protect Your Clients, Protect Yourself: Tax Security 101 Summer 2018 Don’t Take the Bait, Summer 2017 National Tax Security Awareness Week, Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2017 National Tax Security Awareness Week, Dec. 5 - 9, 2016 IRS Security Awareness Tax Tips News Releases and Scam Alerts 2019 IR-2019-145, August 22, 2019, Security Summit warns of new IRS impersonation email scam; reminds taxpayers the IRS does not send unsolicited emails IR-2019-101, June 4, 2019, IRS takes additional steps to protect taxpayer data; plans to end faxing and third-party mailings of certain tax transcripts IR-2019-66, April 8, 2019, IRS, Security Summit partners mark significant progress against identity theft; key taxpayer protection trends continue IR-2019-58, March 27, 2019, IRS revises EIN application process; seeks to enhance security IR-2019-50, March 20, 2019, IRS announces arrests and indictments after two-week campaign to fight refund fraud and identity theft IR-2019-30, March 6, 2019, Identity theft remains on IRS’ "Dirty Dozen" list despite progress IR-2019-26, March 4, 2019, IRS kicks off annual list of most prevalent tax scams: Agency warns taxpayers of pervasive phishing schemes in its ‘Dirty Dozen’ campaign 2018 IR-2018-253, Dec. 17, 2018, IRS, Security Summit partners warn tax professionals of fake payroll direct deposit and wire transfer emails IR-2018-228, Nov. 20, 2018, Security Summit plans National Tax Security Awareness Week, Dec. 3-7; New Twitter handle launched, ‘Dark Web’ webinar planned IR-2018-193, Sept. 27, 2018, IRS alerts taxpayers: Scammers scheming around Oct. 15 deadline; Here’s what to do IR-2018-188, Sept. 18, 2018, IRS warns of scams related to natural disasters IR-2018-171, Aug. 22, 2018, IRS to introduce new tax transcript to better protect taxpayer data IR-2018-132, June 7, 2018, With hurricane season underway, IRS warns of scams related to natural disasters IR-2018-129, May 31, 2018, IRS continues warning on impersonation scams; Reminds people to remain alert to other scams, schemes this summer IR-2018-125, May 24, 2018, IRS warns tax pros of new scam posing as professional associations IR-2018-119, May 10, 2018, IRS warns of variation of Form W-8BEN scam; crooks impersonate IRS to get banking and other information IR-2018-111, May 3, 2018, IRS urges small businesses: Protect IT systems from identity theft. IR-2018-103, April 24, 2018, IRS, Security Summit Partners warn of new twist on phone scam; crooks direct taxpayers to IRS.gov to “verify” calls. IR-2018-88, April 9, 2018, IRS, Summit Partners warn on tax deadline scams, 'IRS Refunds' email IR-2018-68, March 22, 2018, Summit partners warn tax pros to be on alert; step up security measures IR-2018-61, March 16, 2018, Security Summit urges tax pros to protect their identification numbers: EFINs, PTINs and CAF numbers IR-2018-27, Feb. 13, 2018, Scam Alert: IRS Urges Taxpayers to Watch Out for Erroneous Refunds; Beware of Fake Calls to Return Money to a Collection Agency IR-2018-17, Feb. 2, 2018, Tax Pros Urged to Step Up Security as Filing Scheme Emerges, Reminded to Report Data Thefts IR-2018-8, Jan. 17, 2018, IRS, States and Tax Industry Warn Employers to Beware of Form W-2 Scam; Tax Season Could Bring New Surge in Phishing Scheme IR-2018-02, Jan. 09, 2018, Security Summit Partners Warn Tax Pros of Heightened Fraud Activity as Filing Season Approaches 2017 IR-2017-203, Dec. 13, 2017, Consumer Alert: IRS Warns Taxpayers, Tax Pros of New Email Scam Targeting Hotmail Users IR-2017-176, Oct. 17, 2017, Security Summit Partners Mark Progress in Identity Theft Battle; Prepare for 2018 Tax Season IR-2017-173, Oct. 13, 2017, IRS Issues Reminder to Taxpayers as Scams Continue Across the Nation IR-2017-171, Oct. 12, 2017, Fake Insurance Tax Form Scam Aims at Stealing Data from Tax Pros, Clients IR-2017-170, Oct. 11, 2017, Consumer Alert: IRS Warns Taxpayers, Tax Pros of New e-Services Scam IR-2017-134, Aug. 28, 2017, IRS Issues Urgent Warning to Beware IRS FBI Themed Ransomware Scam IR-2017-126, Aug. 4, 2017, Security Summit Alert: Tax Pros Warned of New Scam to Steal Their Passwords IR-2017-117, July 6, 2017, Security Summit Launches Education Campaign Aimed at Tax Pros; Warns Against Phishing Epidemic with “Don’t Take the Bait” series IR-2017-112, June 26, 2017, IRS Cautions Taxpayers to Watch for Summertime Scams IR-2017-111, June 23, 2017, Security Summit Warns of New Phishing Email Targeting Tax Pros IR-2017-107, June 15, 2017, IRS Warns of New Phone Scam Involving Bogus Certified Letters; Reminds People to Remain Vigilant Against Scams, Schemes this Summer IR-2017-86, April 19, 2017, IRS Provides Tips on Determining If It’s Really The IRS At Your Door IR-2017-78, April 10, 2017, IRS Alerts Taxpayers with Limited English Proficiency of Ongoing Phone Scams; Urges Caution Before Paying Unexpected Tax Bills IR-2017-71, March 31, 2017, Tax Professionals Warned of e-Services Scam; Urged to be Wary of Schemes as Filing Season Deadline Approaches IR-2017-64, March 17, 2017, IRS, States and Tax Industry Warn of Last-Minute Email Scams IR-2017-39, Feb. 17, 2017, Security Summit Alert: Tax Professionals Warned of New Scam to “Unlock” Their Tax Software Accounts IR-2017-20, Feb. 2, 2017, Dangerous W-2 Phishing Scam Evolving; Targeting Schools, Restaurants, Hospitals, Tribal Groups and Others IR-2017-10, Jan. 25, 2017, IRS, States and Tax Industry Renew Alert about Form W-2 Scam Targeting Payroll, Human Resource Departments IR-2017-03, Jan. 11, 2017, Security Summit Alert: New Two-Stage Email Scheme Targets Tax Professionals 2016 IR-2016-163, Dec. 7, 2016, Protect Your Clients: Security Summit Partners Warn Tax Pros of Cybercriminals, Launch New Awareness Tips IR-2016-156, Dec. 01, 2016, IRS, Security Summit Partners Announce “National Tax Security Awareness Week” beginning Dec. 5 IR-2016-145, Nov. 4, 2016, IRS Warns Tax Professionals of New e-Services E-mail Scam IRS Special Edition Tax Tip 2016-13, September 23, 2016, Beware of Fake IRS Tax Bill Notices IR-2016-119, Sept. 2, 2016, IRS Warns of a New Wave of Attacks Focused on Tax Professionals IR-2016-116, Aug. 30, 2016, New Security Summit Video Warns Tax Pros of Cybercriminal Threats; Urges Precautionary Steps IR-2016-103, Aug. 11, 2016, New Phishing Scheme Mimics Software Providers; Targets Tax Professionals IR-2016-96, July 6, 2016, IRS, Partners Warn Tax Preparers of Data Theft Risks; Launch New Campaign to Increase Awareness IRS Statement, April 15, 2016, New Tax Scam Targeting Tax Professionals IR-2016-62, April 13, 2016, IRS Warns of Continued Scams, Varied Tactics as the Tax Deadline Nears IR-2016-55, April 6, 2016, IRS Warns Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia Residents of New Phishing Scam Targeting National Capital Area IR-2016-45, March 21, 2016, IRS’s Top 10 Identity Theft Prosecutions: Criminal Investigation Continues Efforts to Halt Refund Fraud IR-2016-40, March 14, 2016, Consumer Alert: Scammers Change Tactics, Once Again IR-2016-34, March 1, 2016, IRS Alerts Payroll and HR Professionals to Phishing Scheme Involving W-2s IR-2016-28, Feb. 18, 2016, Consumers Warned of New Surge in IRS Email Schemes during 2016 Tax Season; Tax Industry Also Targeted IR-2016-12, Feb. 1, 2016, Identity Theft an Ongoing Concern on the IRS Annual "Dirty Dozen" List of Tax Scams to Avoid Fact Sheets FS-2018-21, December 2018, IRS offers tips to tax professionals to reduce CAF number errors, better protect data from cyberthievesFS-2018-16, September 2018, Coming soon: A new tax transcript to better protect taxpayer dataFS-2018-12, May 2018, Avoid scams: Know the facts on how the IRS contacts taxpayersFS-2018-6, April 2018, When to file a Form 14039, Identity Theft AffidavitFS-2017-10, July 2017, Information on Identity Theft for Business, Partnerships and Estate and TrustsFS-2017-4, March 2017, Identity Theft Information for Tax Professionals FS-2016-23, July 2016, Tax Professionals: Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Videos IRS Tax Pro Playlist, YouTube IRS Identity Theft Playlist, YouTube Publications Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data PDF Publication 5293, Data Theft Resource Guide for Tax Professionals PDF NIST Publication NISTIR 7621, Small Business Information Security – The Fundamentals PDF Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers PDF Related Resources Data Theft Information for Tax Professionals – What to do if you become a victim Identity Theft Information for Tax Professionals - How to Protect Yourself and Clients Identity Theft Central Taxes. 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