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.
Identity Theft & Fraud
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.
Keeping client data secure: How’s your cybersecurity immunity?
This article discusses five things tax professionals can do to boost their security immunity.
New user verification for IRS online accounts to be required by mid-2022
Tax professionals and taxpayers will have to create an account with a third-party provider, ID.me, which requires uploading an image of a government-issued ID and a selfie, in order to access certain IRS online tools and portals.
More ‘Dirty Dozen’: Fake charities, ‘ghost’ preparers, and other ploys
The IRS warns of tax-related scams in a third of four installments.
Next batch of 'Dirty Dozen' warns of personal info scams
In the second installment of this year’s “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams, the IRS warns taxpayers to be vigilant for fraudulent schemes in the form of emails, text or social media messages, and phone calls.
Unemployment benefit identity theft scam targets unemployed taxpayers
The IRS warned taxpayers that identity thieves are fraudulently claiming state unemployment benefits using stolen taxpayer identities. Here is what taxpayers should do if they receive a Form 1099-G reporting state unemployment benefits they did not receive.
Beware of identity theft scam involving unemployment benefits
The IRS warned taxpayers that identity thieves are fraudulently claiming state unemployment benefits using stolen taxpayer identities. Here is what taxpayers should do if they receive a Form 1099-G reporting state unemployment benefits they did not receive.
IRS will mask business tax transcript identifying information
The IRS announced that beginning Dec. 13 it will mask sensitive data on business tax transcripts, a step it took two years ago for individual tax transcripts.
Offer-in-compromise scams expected to increase
The COVID-19 recession is the reason why the IRS added “offer-in-compromise mills” to its annual Dirty Dozen scams list.
