National Tax Security Awareness Week

“National Tax Security Awareness Week” to Provide Ways to Keep Data Secure Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season, and Security Summit partners hope “National Tax Security Awareness Week” will help taxpayers avoid identity thieves’ scams by providing consumer warnings and tips from Monday, December 5 to Friday, December 9. This educational outreach is part of the Taxes. Security. Together. initiative, which shares security-related information and develops security protocols to help protect against identity theft and tax-related fraud. Every day this week the Taxes. Security. Together. website will share a new warning or security tip. In addition, the IRS issued Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers. In the past, the Security Summit worked to provide critical information to its partners and tax preparers, resulting in reduced incidences of ID theft. Including taxpayers in these efforts should better protect sensitive tax- and finance-related data from would-be thieves and fraudsters. Starting today, you will see topics like the following: • “Always use security software with firewall and anti-virus protections. Make sure the security software is always turned on and can automatically update. Encrypt sensitive files such as tax records you store on your computer. Use strong passwords. • Learn to recognize and avoid phishing emails, threatening phone calls and texts from thieves posing as legitimate organizations such as your bank, credit card company and government organizations, including the IRS. Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails. • Protect your personal data. Don’t routinely carry your Social Security card, and make sure your tax records are secure. Treat your personal information like you do your cash; don’t leave it lying around.” IRS Commissioner Koskinen commented on the launch of “National Tax Security Awareness Week,” encouraging taxpayers to “look out for friends and family who may not be tech savvy and may be leaving their computers vulnerable to identity thieves.”