The owner of a CPA firm in Texas told attendees at an AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE 25 session on data security that the breach was one of the hardest things she had experienced in her career, yet she came out of it with clients still viewing her positively.
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Identity Theft & Fraud
Phish, smish, and spear phish: IRS releases 2025’s Dirty Dozen
The annual list, which began in 2002, lists 12 ways scammers try to gain confidential information from tax professionals or trick taxpayers.
Fraudsters get $47 million from practitioner priority service line scheme
The losses occurred over an eight-month period ending in April, according to a report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
AICPA joins coalition to fight intensifying tax scams, schemes
The Coalition Against Scam and Scheme Threats (CASST), convened at the request of IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, will work toward having new protections in place by the 2025 filing season.
‘Unconscionable’ delays in ID theft cases mar IRS tax season: report
In her midyear report to Congress, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins writes that, as of April, the IRS was taking over 22 months to resolve cases in its identity theft victim assistance unit, which had about 500,000 unresolved cases.
IRS warns about more tax scams
The IRS said scams involving the fuel tax credit, the sick and family leave credit, and household employment taxes led thousands of taxpayers to file inflated refund claims.
Dirty Dozen list ends with easements, digital assets, and more
The IRS winds up its annual list of 12 scams and schemes by covering two broad categories: bogus tax-avoidance strategies and schemes with an international element.
Dirty Dozen list from IRS opens with phishing, smishing scams
The IRS opened its annual Dirty Dozen list with scams that trick recipients into clicking a suspicious link, filling out personal and financial information, or downloading malware onto their computer.
EFIN scam targets tax professionals
The IRS warns that the scammers want to gain access to data and identities so they can file fraudulent tax returns.
ERC abuse brings renewed push for regulation of paid tax preparers
AICPA and Treasury advocate for congressional action to help thwart the unscrupulous promoters that use the employee retention credit to make money by taking advantage of small businesses.
To combat fraud, IRS steps up ERC claim enforcement
Having made significant progress in the ongoing effort against fraudulent employee retention credit claims, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said the agency has entered a new phase of increasing scrutiny on dubious submissions while renewing consumer warnings against aggressive marketing.
Scams are surging in the summer, the IRS says
The IRS issued a warning for taxpayers to be wary of offers promising tax refunds or to “fix” tax problems, saying these emails or texts are part of a summer surge in tax scams.
Tax fraud and bankruptcy dischargeability
This article examines aspects of criminal and civil tax fraud and their consequences for discharge of tax debts in bankruptcy, including principles of collateral estoppel and res judicata.
Dirty Dozen: IRS scam list includes spear-phishing warning to tax pros
On its annual list, the IRS included a warning to tax pros and businesses to be cautious about opening emails and clicking on links that could result in identity theft.
Dirty (Half) Dozen: Watch for these red flags when choosing a tax preparer
The IRS reached the halfway point of its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams, advising that taxpayers be careful when choosing a preparer to handle their returns.
How to submit third-party authorization forms online (and use ID.me)
The IRS strives to expand online service offerings while balancing convenience with the need to keep taxpayer data safe from hackers.
‘Dirty Dozen’: Spear phishing targets tax pros
Emails appearing to come from the Internal Revenue Service or a tax software provider may aim to steal tax return preparers’ account and client information.
‘OIC mills’ and ‘ghost’ preparers in ‘Dirty Dozen’
Sketchy operations target tax debtors for offers in compromise, and preparers who remain anonymous on returns generally have something to hide, the IRS says in its ongoing series.
IRS offers alternative to facial recognition
A short-term option involves a virtual interview with IRS personnel to authenticate taxpayers’ and practitioners’ identities for online services.
Tax pros are subject of ‘spearphishing’ attacks
Bogus emails may impersonate the IRS or tax software providers. Here’s what to watch out for.
employee benefits & pensions
Profits interests: The most tax-efficient equity grant to employees
By granting them a profits interest, entities taxed as partnerships can reward employees with equity. Mistakes, however, could cause challenges from taxing authorities.
