20/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 20/08/2024 23:10
IR-2024-218, Aug. 20, 2024
WASHINGTON - As data thieves continue evolving their tactics, the Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners today reminded tax professionals of six essential steps to protect their sensitive taxpayer information.
The "Security Six" protections offer a relatively simple but important starting point for tax pros to protect their offices, computers and data as well as their clients. These best practices include using anti-virus software, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, backup software or services, encrypted drives and virtual private networks or VPNs.
"Tax professionals face a number of challenges running a business and keeping up with the latest tax law changes, but they shouldn't overlook some security basics," said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. "They should keep in mind these six simple security tips that provide an important foundational defense that protects their systems, their clients and ultimately their business."
The Security Six recommendations are being promoted in a special eight-part summer news release series designed to help tax professionals better protect themselves. Now in its ninth year, the "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" campaign provides timely tips to help secure sensitive taxpayer data that tax pros have in their possession, while also protecting their own businesses from identity thieves.
This is part of an annual education effort by the Security Summit, a group that includes the IRS, tax professionals, industry partners and state tax agencies. The public-private partnership has worked since 2015 to protect the tax system against tax-related identity theft and fraud.
In addition to the series of eight news releases, the tax professional security focus is featured at the Nationwide Tax Forum, being held this summer in five cities throughout the U.S. The three-day continuing education events continue this week in Dallas and conclude the week of September 9 in San Diego, which has already sold out.
The Security Summit partners reminded tax professionals not to overlook these six important security basics that form a critical defense against identity thieves and hackers:
As part of a security plan, the IRS also recommends tax professionals create a data theft response plan, which includes contacting their IRS Stakeholder Liaison to report a security incident.
Tax professionals can also visit the Federation of Tax Administrators to find state contact information. Tax professionals can share information with the appropriate state tax agency by visiting their special Report a Data Breach page.
Tax professionals should also understand the Federal Trade Commission data breach response requirements PDFas part of their overall information and data security plan.
Tax professionals should also stay connected to the IRS through subscriptions to e-News for tax professionals and its social media sites.