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Data Theft and Scams

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For Tax Professionals

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As a tax professional, you should keep your business safe from data theft and scams.

If a data breach affected your business, you should contact the Minnesota Department of Revenue regardless of whether it’s impacting your state returns filed. To stay connected to the latest scams affecting businesses, subscribe to our Tax Scam and Fraud Alerts email list.

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What are some signs my business may be a victim of data theft? [+]

Your data may have been stolen if:

Your clients’ e-filed tax returns begin to reject because returns with their Social Security Numbers were already filed
The number of returns filed with your firm’s Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) exceeds your number of clients
Tax professionals or clients respond to emails you or your firm did not send
Your network computers run slower than normal
Computer cursors move or numbers change without your input
Network computers lock you out
Your clients receive:
- Letters from us or the IRS when they have not filed a return
- IRS authentication letters (Letters 5701C, 4883C, or 5747C) for returns they did not file
- Refunds for returns they did not file
- Tax transcripts they did not request
- IRS online services account emails stating an account was created when they did not create one
- IRS online services account emails stating their account was accessed or disabled when they did not request it

What should I do if I was affected by a data breach? [+]

Notify your employees and clients of the data breach.
Contact us. We will connect you with a Fraud Coordinator who can assist with determining whether you are a victim and which clients’ or tax professionals’ information was accessed.
Contact your local IRS Stakeholder Liaison. Stakeholder Liaisons will notify IRS Criminal Investigation and others within the agency.
Email the Federation of Tax Administrators at StateAlert@taxadmin.org. Get information on how to report victim information to each state where you have clients.
Submit an Identity Theft Affidavit for Businesses and Other Entities.

What can I do to keep my business safe? [+]

Track your daily e-file acknowledgements. If there are more acknowledgements than returns you know you filed, dig deeper.
Track your weekly Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) usage. The IRS posts the number of returns filed with your EFIN weekly.
Track your weekly Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) usage. If you are an attorney, CPA, enrolled agent, or Annual Filing Season Program participant and file 50 or more returns, you can check your PTIN account for a weekly report.
If you have a Centralized Authorization File (CAF) Number, keep your authorizations up to date. Remove authorizations for taxpayers who are no longer your clients. For more information, review IRS Publication 947.
Create your online accounts using Secure Access to help prevent account takeovers. Learn how to register for Secure Access.

Data Theft and Scams

For Tax Professionals

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