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Being organized and prepared for tax season may help eliminate some money stress, but the IRS is urging taxpayers and tax preparers to go one step further with their preparations. The IRS has issued an identity theft warning and is emphasizing the importance of implementing extra defenses against identity theft before the upcoming tax filing season.
Here's what you should know about identity theft risk during tax time and the steps the IRS recommends you take to protect yourself.
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What the IRS is saying
The IRS and the Security Summit are emphasizing the risks of identity theft and are urging taxpayers and tax professionals to take steps to protect themselves from such risks. The warning came as part of the "Protect Your Clients, Protect Yourself" summer series, which is a component to the Security Summit's annual education efforts.
"Taxpayers and tax professionals should take advantage of the powerful tools available to help protect against identity theft," said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. "Using multifactor authentication, IP PINs, and other protections adds important layers of security that helps safeguard sensitive data held by practitioners, taxpayers, and IRS systems."
The prevalence of identity theft today
Identity theft has become a widespread issue. In 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 1,358,253 complaints of identity theft. That marked a 19.6% increase over the 1,135,265 complaints the FTC received in 2024.
The majority of the reports indicated a thief had opened a bogus credit card account, but other top report categories include thieves using an individual's identity for a loan or lease, bank account, or tax-related purpose.
The FTC Safeguards Rule and taxpayer safety
There are already some rules in place to help protect taxpayers. The FTC's Safeguards Rule requires tax preparation firms to use multifactor authentication to help protect customer information. Alternatively, a Qualified Individual must approve an equivalent access control in writing.
The IRS is also promoting several specific tools for individuals to enhance their protections against identity theft.
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Multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication makes accessing an account, like an online IRS account, more difficult by requiring multiple forms of identity verification. The authentication might require a password, a security code sent to a device, or biometric information to help protect the account. If a hacker has accessed an account's password through a method like phishing, multifactor authentication might still prevent them from accessing the account.
The IRS is encouraging tax professionals to use MFA across all of their services and to provide different authentication options to meet their customers' needs. MFA may be helpful when implemented in tax software, cloud storage, email, and other services.
Taxpayers may help protect themselves by always setting up multifactor authentication when it's available. Additionally, use different usernames and passwords for each account, and never share that information.
Identity Protection PIN
The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) may also help taxpayers protect themselves against thieves trying to file fraudulent tax returns using their identity. The IP PIN is a six-digit number that only the taxpayer and the IRS know. It's used to help verify the taxpayer's identity when filing a federal tax return.
Only the taxpayer may obtain a PIN; tax professionals aren't able to obtain an IP PIN for their clients. To get an IP PIN, you may visit www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/get-an-identity-protection-pin. The PIN is good for one year, and once you've signed up, a new PIN is automatically generated each year.
Once you have your PIN, never share it with anyone except for the IRS and your tax preparation professional. The IRS doesn't call, email, or text to request the PIN, and any communication received requesting the PIN is a scam.
IRS Online Account
The IRS is also encouraging taxpayers and tax professionals to create an IRS Online Account, which is a secure account that may help prevent scammers from creating an account in a taxpayer's name. Anyone who is able to verify their identity may create an account, and taxpayers may use their IRS Online Account to view their tax information.
Tax professionals may use the parallel Tax Pro Account to perform numerous tasks, including submitting power of attorney and tax information authorization requests and accessing client information.
Bottom line
Now is the time to prepare for the upcoming tax season, and that means taking steps to further protect your identity and prevent identity theft. Consider opting into an IP PIN through the IRS.gov's Get an Identity Protection PIN tool before filing season opens. This is also a good time to consider creating an IRS Online Account.
If you don't currently have a tax professional, this is also a great time to start searching for one and connecting with potential professionals before the busy tax season starts. A knowledgeable tax professional may help you review where you stand financially, answer any questions you might have, and ensure you file your tax return accurately.
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