Unfortunately, cyber security and taxes have not been the best of bedfellows lately due, in part, to the series of hacks that revealed vast amounts of taxpayer data when the IRS was targeted. However, a new threat has emerged as hackers are now using malware to remotely take control of computers used by tax preparation services in order to file false tax returns. In addition, the cyber thieves are redirecting legitimate returns to alternative bank accounts with the switch often not noticed until days or weeks after the act. Most worrying is the fact that many preparation services are unprepared to combat digital attacks including not training their employees to protect their login information and to avoid certain websites and downloads. Currently, the IRS is working with preparation services to improve digital security. Hopefully new measures of protection will be ready for tax season in 2016.
See, IRS Warns of New Scam to Hijack Tax Preparers’ Computers, Lawyer Herald, April 18, 2016.
Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.
