The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urged taxpayers and tax professionals to strengthen their online security as Cybersecurity Awareness Month began.
The IRS made the announcement Friday, joining the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Security Summit partners in encouraging cybersecurity practices across the tax community.
IRS Chief Sounds The Alarm
“Criminals continue to look for new ways to steal taxpayer information and exploit trusted partnerships,” said Frank J. Bisignano, IRS chief executive officer. “Taxpayers and tax professionals can help protect sensitive information and strengthen the security of the tax system by making cybersecurity practices part of their routine year-round.”
Steps To Stay Protected
The agency recommended taxpayers use strong, unique passwords, ideally with a password manager, and turn on multifactor authentication where available. It also urged people to keep software and devices updated, recognize and report scam attempts, encrypt and back up tax records, and avoid using public Wi-Fi for financial accounts or IRS services.
The IRS warned that scammers continue impersonating the agency through mail, email, text and social media, often promising larger refunds, claiming locked accounts, or demanding immediate payment. Businesses and payroll professionals were told to watch for phishing and W-2 schemes, while tax professionals were cautioned about fake prospective clients and compromised email accounts used to spread malicious links.
The agency pointed taxpayers toward tools including an Identity Protection PIN, Online Account access for individuals and businesses, and a Tax Pro Account for authorized professionals. It reiterated that it first contacts taxpayers by mail, never demands immediate payment or threatens arrest, and never initiates contact through social media.
A Broader Pattern Of Digital Fraud
The IRS’s warning arrives as scams and identity theft have surged more broadly. Nine in 10 Americans have encountered a scam or cyberattack attempt, with artificial intelligence making fraud increasingly personalized and harder to detect, a recent industry report found.
That backdrop has made cybersecurity guidance especially relevant for taxpayers, who have separately faced their own identity-theft crisis: more than 500,000 tax-related identity theft victims are currently waiting nearly two years for case resolution, a delay Congress’s National Taxpayer Advocate has called severe enough to push some households behind on rent and other basic expenses.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Image via Shutterstock
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