Late yesterday afternoon the IRS announced that "criminals used taxpayer-specific data acquired from non-IRS sources to gain unauthorized access to information on approximately 100,000 tax accounts through its "Get Transcript" application". The IRS data base that contains tax returns was not compromised.
These were very sophisticated criminals. In order to get into this particular application they had to obtain specific data from an outside source about a taxpayer, including the answers to several personal verification questions typically known only to the taxpayer. The Get Transcript application has been shut down and a criminal investigation is being conducted.
The IRS will be sending letters within a few days to 200,000 taxpayers notifying them that a third party had access to their Social Security numbers and additional personal financial information and attempted to use that information to access the IRS Get Transcript application. Though half of those taxpayers did not actually have their transcript account accessed, the IRS is alerting all the taxpayers so that they are aware someone had sensitive financial information about them and attempted to use it illegally.
For those 100,000 taxpayers whose Get Transcript accounts were accessed, free credit monitoring will be provided to insure that the information that was used to access the IRS application is not being used for other purposes like applying for credit. The taxpayers' accounts in the tax return data base will also be flagged to protect against identity theft.
As additional information becomes available, Turner's Tax Service will share it with you. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call the office at 530-626-8551.
These were very sophisticated criminals. In order to get into this particular application they had to obtain specific data from an outside source about a taxpayer, including the answers to several personal verification questions typically known only to the taxpayer. The Get Transcript application has been shut down and a criminal investigation is being conducted.
The IRS will be sending letters within a few days to 200,000 taxpayers notifying them that a third party had access to their Social Security numbers and additional personal financial information and attempted to use that information to access the IRS Get Transcript application. Though half of those taxpayers did not actually have their transcript account accessed, the IRS is alerting all the taxpayers so that they are aware someone had sensitive financial information about them and attempted to use it illegally.
For those 100,000 taxpayers whose Get Transcript accounts were accessed, free credit monitoring will be provided to insure that the information that was used to access the IRS application is not being used for other purposes like applying for credit. The taxpayers' accounts in the tax return data base will also be flagged to protect against identity theft.
As additional information becomes available, Turner's Tax Service will share it with you. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call the office at 530-626-8551.
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