In the early weeks of this year’s tax season, the IRS is warning taxpayers and preparers that thieves are coming for their data.
According to the agency, nearly two dozen tax practitioner firms have reported data thefts already this year.
The agency is urging firms to use multi-factor authentication, which prompts users to enter additional credentials in order to sign in – like a security code sent to their mobile phone. That, it says, can prevent thieves from being able to access accounts.
“The IRS, state tax agencies and the private-sector tax industry have worked together as the Security Summit to make sure the multi-factor authentication feature is available to practitioners and taxpayers alike,” Kenneth Corbin, commissioner of the IRS wage and investment division, said in a statement. “The multi-factor authentication feature is simple to set up and easy to use. Using it may just save you from the financial pain and frustration of identity theft.”
The agency also warned against phishing scams, which cybercriminals use to try to gain control of computers.
Read the complete article: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/irs-warns-data-theft-tax-194144399.html
