Tax pros should remember to safeguard EFINs
Tax professionals should remember that they can be prime targets for criminals. These criminals not only want to steal client data, but also the professionals’ data, such as their electronic filing identification numbers.
A thief who breaches the data of one tax return preparer can get their hands on lots of other data. In fact, they can get personal info on hundreds or even thousands of people.
One way to watch for suspicious activity is for preparers to check the activity on their EFIN. You can review it to see how many federal tax returns have been filed using their number.
Tax pros should routinely verify the number of returns submitted using their EFIN. It’s especially important for them to do this during the tax filing season. This can be done through IRS e-Services. If you don’t have an account, then you can visit e-Services and register for one.
Once established, log into your e-Services account, follow these five easy steps to verify the number of returns electronically filed with the IRS:
- Select their name
- In the left banner, select Application
- In the left banner, select e-file Application
- Select their name again
- Select EFIN Status
After this last step, the screen shows the number of returns filed based on
return type. Preparers can see the number of returns the IRS received, and
match that number to their records. The IRS updates this information weekly. Preparers
should contact the IRS e-help Desk at 866-255-0654 if their records don’t match
what they see in the system. They should contact the IRS if they see anything
else suspicious in their account.