Accounting Today
WASHINGTON, D.C. (APRIL 18, 2016)
by Michael Cohn
The Internal Revenue Service is warning tax professionals about a new scam in which cybercriminals obtain remote control of tax preparers’ computer systems, complete and file client tax returns, and redirect tax refunds to thieves’ accounts.
The IRS said it knows of only a handful of cases to date, but warned the scam has the potential to impact the filing of fraudulent returns in advance of the April tax deadline and is yet another example of tax professionals being targeted by identity theft criminals.
The IRS is urging all tax preparers to take the following steps: