Tax season can be a stressful time for many Americans, and while scams are prevalent year-round, there is often a greater proliferation during tax time. Scammers are waiting for you to slip up so they can steal your personal information, money, and identity. The National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) want to help you stay safe online while filing your taxes with these best practices, tips, and resources.
Before You Get Started
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Use MFA wherever possible. It will fortify your online accounts by creating an extra layer of security, such as a unique one-time code sent to your phone. Most major email and online tax preparation services have this tool available.
- Install a password manager: Remembering unique passwords for accounts is difficult. Store your log-in credentials in a password manager. Password managers will automatically populate your username and password upon log in, and even recommend strong new passwords for each account.
- Update software: Before filing your taxes at home or work, be sure that all internet-connected devices—including PCs, smartphones, and tablets—are running the most current versions of software to improve the performance and security of your devices.
- Know your IP PIN: An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number. The IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS…
