IRS and Security Summit Urges Tax Preparers to Protect Their PTINs, EFINs and CAF numbers

The IRS, state tax agencies and the tax industry is urging tax practitioners to maintain and monitor their EFINs and CAF numbers to help safeguard taxpayer data.

Cyber-criminals sometimes post stolen EFINs, PTINs and CAF numbers on the Dark Web as a crime kit for identity thieves who can then file fraudulent tax returns. To protect EFINs, PTINs and CAF numbers a tax preparer should avoid phishing emails which cyber-criminals commonly use to trick practitioners into disclosing their sensitive information. Tax preparers can review the Don’t Take the Bait campaign to learn more about the various tactics are used by identity thieves.

To assist tax professionals the IRS has created a How to Maintain, Monitor and Protect Your EFIN video and web page that offer tips to preparers.

Tax preparers should make a weekly check of their EFINs to determine how many returns were filed under their number. They should also update their EFIN application within 30 days of any change, including if there are any new personnel, telephone numbers, addresses or email addresses.

Additionally, tax professionals who are attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents or participants in the Annual Filing Season Program and file more than 50 returns can also check the number of returns that the IRS processed with their PTIN in the current year. This information is updated weekly and can be located by going to their online PTIN account and selecting “View Returns Filed per PTIN”.

For more details see IRS news release IR-2018-61 (Security Summit urges tax pros to protect their identification numbers).