The IRS and its Security Summit partners encourage tax professionals to take advantage of its security plan template designed to make data security planning easier. The Written Information Security Plan (WISP) is an easy-to-understand document developed by and for tax and industry professionals to keep customer and business information safe and secure. This is the first in a five-part "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" summer series from the Security Summit, a public-private partnership that works to protect the tax system against tax-related identity theft and fraud. Given the importance of security plans, the WISP will be a special focus at the IRS Nationwide Tax Forums this year. This news release is also available in Spanish and Simplified Chinese.
The IRS advises tax pros and taxpayers to be on the lookout for a summer surge of tax scams. The latest email schemes touch on a variety of topics, but many center around promises about a third round of Economic Impact Payments. The IRS is also receiving reports of emails urging people to "Claim your tax refund online," and text messages that the person's tax return was "banned" by the IRS. These scams are riddled with spelling errors and awkward phrasing, but they consistently try to entice people to click on a link.
As part of the Security Summit effort, the IRS has been working in partnership with state tax administrators, tax professionals and the nation's tax industry to warn people about identity theft risks, including the ongoing push by scammers to trick people into sharing personal information through email, texts and phone calls. The Security Summit is currently in the middle of a special summer news release series aimed at increasing awareness among tax professionals on ways to protect themselves – and their clients – against identity theft. Visit IRS.gov for more about the most recent wave of activity involving tax scammers.