Bookmark and Share [ [link removed] ]

a { color:#0073AF !important;} a:hover { color:#004673 !important;} <!-- body { font-family: arial; } p { font-size: 12px; } li { font-size: 12px; } h2 { font-size: 24px; font-style: italic;} -->
IRS.gov Banner
IRS Newswire August 20, 2024

News Essentials

What's Hot [ [link removed] ]

News Releases [ [link removed] ]

IRS - The Basics [ [link removed] ]

IRS Guidance [ [link removed] ]

Media Contacts [ [link removed] ]

Facts & Figures [ [link removed] ]

Around The Nation [ [link removed] ]

e-News Subscriptions [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

The Newsroom Topics

Multimedia Center [ [link removed] ]

Noticias en Español [ [link removed] ]

Radio PSAs [ [link removed] ]

Tax Scams [ [link removed] ]

The Tax Gap [ [link removed] ]

Fact Sheets [ [link removed] ]

IRS Tax Tips [ [link removed] ]

Armed Forces [ [link removed] ]

Latest News Home [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

IRS Resources

Contact My Local Office [ [link removed] ]

Filing Options [ [link removed] ]

Forms & Instructions [ [link removed] ]

Frequently Asked Questions [ [link removed] ]

News [ [link removed] ]

Taxpayer Advocate [ [link removed] ]

Where to File [ [link removed] ]

IRS Social Media [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________


Issue Number:    IR-2024-218

Inside This Issue
________________________________________________________________________

*IRS, Security Summit highlight “Security Six” and key steps for tax pros to protect themselves *

*"Week 7 of “Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself” series focuses on six simple steps to increase data security"** * 

WASHINGTON — As data thieves continue evolving their tactics, the Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners today reminded tax professionals of six essential steps to protect their sensitive taxpayer information. 

The “Security Six” protections offer a relatively simple but important starting point for tax pros to protect their offices, computers and data as well as their clients. These best practices include using anti-virus software, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, backup software or services, encrypted drives and virtual private networks or VPNs. 

“Tax professionals face a number of challenges running a business and keeping up with the latest tax law changes, but they shouldn’t overlook some security basics,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “They should keep in mind these six simple security tips that provide an important foundational defense that protects their systems, their clients and ultimately their business.” 

The Security Six recommendations are being promoted in a special eight-part summer news release series designed to help tax professionals better protect themselves. Now in its ninth year, the "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" campaign provides timely tips to help secure sensitive taxpayer data that tax pros have in their possession, while also protecting their own businesses from identity thieves. 

This is part of an annual education effort by the Security Summit, a group that includes the IRS, tax professionals, industry partners and state tax agencies. The public-private partnership has worked since 2015 to protect the tax system against tax-related identity theft and fraud. 

In addition to the series of eight news releases, the tax professional security focus is featured at the Nationwide Tax Forum [ [link removed] ], being held this summer in five cities throughout the U.S. The three-day continuing education events continue this week in Dallas and conclude the week of September 9 in San Diego, which has already sold out. 

*Security Six adds up to more protection  * 

The Security Summit partners reminded tax professionals not to overlook these six important security basics that form a critical defense against identity thieves and hackers: 


* *Anti-virus software* scans computer files or memory for certain patterns that may indicate there’s malicious software – also called malware – on the device. Anti-virus vendors find new issues and update malware daily. This is why it’s important for users to install the latest updates of the software. 
* *Firewalls* provide protection against outside attackers. The firewall shields computers and networks from malicious or unnecessary web traffic. This helps prevents malicious software from accessing the user’s system. 
* *Multi-factor authentication* adds an extra layer of protection beyond a password. The returning user enters credentials like a username and password. Then, there’s another step, such as entering a security code, token or a biometric like a fingerprint. Under new rules from the Federal Trade Commission, all tax professionals are required to use multi-factor authentication. 
* *Backup software or services* should be routinely used by tax pros to back up critical files on their computers and hard drives to external sources. This is helpful not just to protect against a cyber-attack but is also helpful in case of device failure or a natural disaster. 
* *Drive encryption:* Because tax professionals keep sensitive client data on their computers, users should consider drive encryption software. Drive encryption is also knowns as disk encryption. It transforms data on the computer into protected files that are unreadable to outsiders. This means only people who are authorized to access the data can do so.
* *Virtual Private Network:* Because many tax firms’ employees must occasionally connect to unknown networks or work from home, the office should establish an encrypted virtual private network (VPN). This allows for a more secure connection. A VPN provides a secure, encrypted tunnel to transmit data between a remote user over the internet and the company network.* *

*Tax pro with a security problem? Contact an IRS Stakeholder Liaison, states and FTC  * 

As part of a security plan, the IRS also recommends tax professionals create a data theft response plan, which includes contacting their IRS Stakeholder Liaison [ [link removed] ] to report a security incident. 

Tax professionals can also visit the Federation of Tax Administrators to find state contact information. Tax professionals can share information with the appropriate state tax agency by visiting their special “Report a Data Breach” [ [link removed] ]_ _page. 

Tax professionals should also understand the Federal Trade Commission data breach response requirements [ [link removed] ] as part of their overall information and data security plan. 

*Additional resources  ** *


* _Review _Publication 5293, Data Security Resource Guide for Tax Professionals [ [link removed] ], which provides an overview and resources about how to avoid data theft.
* Tax professionals can also get help with security recommendations by reviewing IRS Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data [ [link removed] ], and the IRS' Identity theft information page for tax pros [ [link removed] ].
* Publication 5709, How to Create a Written Information Security Plan for Data Safety [ [link removed] ]_._
* Publication 5708, Creating a Written Information Security Plan for your Tax & Accounting Practice [ [link removed] ]_._
* _Read _Small Business Information Security: The Fundamentals [ [link removed] ], by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

Tax professionals should also stay connected to the IRS through subscriptions to e-News for tax professionals [ [link removed] ] and its social media sites [ [link removed] ].

Back to Top [ #Fifteenth ]

________________________________________________________________________

FaceBook Logo [ [link removed] ]  YouTube Logo [ [link removed] ]  Instagram Logo [ [link removed] ]  Twitter Logo [ [link removed] ]  LinkedIn Logo [ [link removed] ]

________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for subscribing to the IRS Newswire, an IRS e-mail service.

If you know someone who might want to subscribe to this mailing list, please forward this message to them so they can subscribe [ [link removed] ].

This message was distributed automatically from the mailing list IRS Newswire. *Please Do Not Reply To This Message.*


________________________________________________________________________

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page [ [link removed] ]. You will need your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com [ [link removed] ].

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [ [link removed] ].


body .abe-column-block {min-height: 5px;} ________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to [email protected] by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington, D.C. 20535 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;}