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News EssentialsThe Newsroom TopicsIRS Resources | Issue Number: IR-2021-170Inside This IssueSecurity Summit warns tax pros to watch for tell-tale signs of identity theft
IR-2021-170, Aug. 17, 2021
WASHINGTON – With identity thieves continuing to target the tax community, Internal Revenue Service Security Summit partners today urged tax professionals to learn the signs of data theft so they can react quickly to protect clients.
The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry – working together as the Security Summit – reminded tax professionals that they should contact the IRS immediately when there's an identity theft issue while also contacting insurance or cybersecurity experts to assist them with determining the cause and extent of the loss.
"There are tell-tale signs of identity theft that tax pros can easily miss," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Identity thieves continue to look for ways to slip into the systems of tax pros to steal data. We urge practitioners to take simple steps and remain on the lookout for signs of data and identity theft. They are a critical first line of defense against identity theft."
Knowing the signs of identity theft is the final part of a five-part series sponsored by the Summit partners to highlight critical steps tax professionals can take to protect client data. This year's theme "Boost Security Immunity: Fight Against Identity Theft," focused on urging tax professionals to try harder to secure their systems and protect client data during this pandemic and its aftermath.
This summer-time Summit series, now in its sixth year, highlighted the protections offered by multi-factor authentication and key security steps, the use of the Identity Protection PIN for clients, scams to steal unemployment benefits and the dangers of phishing email/text scams.
One common refrain the IRS hears from tax professionals reporting data thefts is that they did not immediately recognize its signs.
Summit partners urged tax professionals to watch out for these critical signs:
Tax professionals should also watch for warning signs when clients report they've received:
These are just a few common examples. Tax pros should ensure they have the highest security possible and contact these sources if they sense or see something amiss.
If you or your firm are the victim of data theft, immediately:
Find more information at Data Theft Information for Tax Professionals.
Additional resources Tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing the recently revised IRS Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data, and Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The IRS Identity Theft Central pages for tax pros, individuals and businesses have important details as well.
Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals, provides a compilation of data theft information available on IRS.gov. Also, tax professionals should stay connected to the IRS through subscriptions to e-News for Tax Professionals and Social Media.
For more information, see Boost Security Immunity: Fight Against Identity Theft.
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