IRS Security Awareness Tax Tip Number 4: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Passwords
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sent this bulletin at 12/14/2015 11:01 AM EST
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Issue Number: IRS Security Awareness Tax Tip Number 4Inside This IssueWhat You Need to Know to Protect Your Passwords It’s time to have a word about your password. Many of us use the same sign-on and password over and over for our online accounts. That’s why phishing scams, which often seek password information, are so successful. Once a criminal has your password for one account, it’s highly likely you’ve used the same sign-on information for other accounts. The IRS, state revenue departments and the tax industry have teamed up to combat identity theft in the tax arena. Our theme: Taxes. Security. Together. Working in partnership with you, we can make a difference. That’s why we have all agreed to new stronger standards that you will see when you access your tax software products for 2016 and file your taxes. These include:
These are just a few of the new protections that will be in place for the 2016 tax season to protect you from identity thieves. Most of the protections we are taking may not be visible to you, but they will add layers of protection nonetheless, adding new and stronger protections during tax time. While we are taking these steps, it’s a good time for you to think about the passwords you use for other accounts. You should always use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. Do not use the same password for multiple accounts. The longer, the better. And change your passwords regularly. We all have a role to play in fighting identity theft. Join with us to fight identity theft. To learn additional steps you can take to protect your personal and financial data, visit Taxes. Security. Together. Also read Publication 4524, Security Awareness for Taxpayers. Each and every taxpayer has a set of fundamental rights they should be aware of when dealing with the IRS. These are your Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Explore your rights and our obligations to protect them on IRS.gov. Additional IRS Resources:
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