The IRS, State Tax Agencies and the Tax Industry announced a National Tax Security Awareness Week from November 27 to December 1, to encourage both individual and business taxpayers to take steps to protect their tax data and identities in advance of the 2018 filing season.
- Learn to recognize and avoid phishing emails, threatening phone calls and texts from thieves posing as legitimate organizations such as banks, credit card companies and government organizations, including the IRS. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails.
- Always use security software with firewall and anti-virus protections. Make sure the security software is always turned on and will automatically update. Encrypt sensitive files such as tax records stored on computers. Use strong passwords.
- Protect personal data. Use strong, unique passwords for each online account. Don’t routinely carry Social Security cards, and make sure tax records are secure. Treat personal information like cash; don’t leave it lying around.
See: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/national-tax-security-awareness-week-2017 for information on this year’s National Tax Security Awareness week.
