As the ninth annual National Tax Security Awareness Week came to a close, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its Security Summit partners stressed the importance of protecting sensitive financial information from identity theft and tax scams, especially as the holidays and the 2025 tax season approach.
Highlights from Tax Security Awareness Week 2024
Businesses and taxpayers need to guard against identity theft and holiday scams: Scammers are continually changing their tactics. Companies and individual taxpayers should review and update their security measures and practices to guard against the latest scams.
Social Media Tax Advice shouldn’t always be trusted: Taxpayers should be cautious against the growing threat of bad tax advice on social media that continues to encourage people into filing inaccurate tax returns.
IRS identity protection PIN: Taxpayers are advised to add an extra layer of protection between their tax returns. Identity thieves can be stopped in their tracks by taxpayers joining the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number Program at the start of the 2025 tax season.
Online Safety Tips that serve as good reminders:
- Use strong passwords. Consider using a password manager to store passwords.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Use this for extra security on online accounts.
- Use and update computer and phone software. Enable automatic updates to install critical security updates, including anti-virus and firewall protections.
- Use a VPN. Be aware of criminals intercepting personal information on insecure public Wi-Fi networks. Everyone is encouraged to use a virtual private network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
SPS/GZ is a full-service tax reporting firm that provides personalized service and exceptional support, utilizing state-of-the-art technology to business clients of all sizes. We create and e-file Forms 1098-T, 1042-S, and 1099 online filing, Affordable Care Act tax forms, and Forms 3921 and 3922. For more information, reach out to us at sales@greenzapato.com or call at (888)375-3049. Our complete and affordable solution allows administrators to simply upload their tax form data file to our secure portal in a few simple steps and we handle everything else to keep your organization compliant. Contact us today!
