IRS, States, and Tax Industry Announce New Steps to Help Public Protect Personal Data in order to Prevent Tax Identity Theft

The IRS has just announced their new “Taxes. Security. Together.” campaign which is designed to help raise public awareness about how their use of the internet and their personal devices can affect the safety of their financial and tax data. It will urge individuals to take active steps to protect themselves and make them aware of just how sophisticated identity thieves have become.

Included in the “Taxes. Security. Together.” campaign is information about how the IRS, state tax administrators, and the tax software industry are implementing an expanded series of protections for the upcoming 2016 filing season to address tax related identity theft. These added protections will include asking individuals for additional information that will be included with their tax return. The additional information will help government agencies ensure that the return they are accepting is truly the taxpayer’s and not one that is being filed by someone who has stolen their identity.

The “Taxes. Security. Together.” campaign is a direct result of the IRS Security Summit, a collaborative effort started in March 2015 between the IRS, states, and the tax industry to help fight tax identity theft (of which CrossLink Professional Tax Software has been a part of).  This joint campaign will include YouTube videos, weekly Tax Tips, and local events across the country. This information will also be included on state websites and by the professional tax software community during this upcoming filing season.

For more information on this campaign, see the following on the IRS website:

• Taxes. Security. Together webpage – Explains how taxpayers, tax preparers, and businesses can help fight tax identity theft.

• IRS News Article 2015-129 (IRS, States and Tax Industry Announce New Steps to Help Public to Protect Personal Tax Data)

• IRS Fact Sheet 2015-23 (IRS, States and Industry Partners Provide Update on Collaborative Fight Against Tax-Related Identity Theft)

• IRS News Article 2015-117 (IRS, States, Industry Continue Progress to Protect Taxpayers from Identity Theft)

Time to Renew Your PTIN for 2016, PTIN Fee Reduced

The IRS has begun accepting renewals and new applications for PTINs for calendar year 2016.

All paid preparers of federal tax returns must renew their PTINs for 2016. The IRS prefers that tax preparers renew by December 31, 2015. However, if this is not possible, tax preparers must renew before they begin preparing 2015 federal income tax returns.

The IRS has just announced that the annual fee to renew or obtain a new PTIN will now be $50 for the 2016 PTINs. See the IRS Reminds Tax Return Preparers of Limited Practice Changes and Announces Revised PTIN Fee news article on the IRS website for more information about the PTIN fee change.

Although the IRS may not require federal tax return preparers who are not EAs, CPAs, or attorneys to pass a test and complete yearly continuing education, the IRS still has the authority to require all paid federal tax return preparers to register with the IRS and obtain a PTIN.

To renew a PTIN, go to the IRS Tax Professional PTIN System page on the IRS website, log onto your IRS PTIN account, fill out the information requested, and pay the $50 renewal fee.

Failure to renew or obtain a PTIN could result in being penalized under IRS Code Section 6695.

Be sure to renew your PTIN before the 2016 filing season begins.