Responding to a Data Breach in Your Tax Practice

Presented by specialists from the IRS, this session focuses on what tax professionals need to do in the event of a data breach. It explains your responsibility to protect taxpayer information and walks through what to do before, during and after an incident. Using real-world examples, the session shows how to recognize a breach, contain it, report it and recover from it. It also covers how to work with the IRS and communicate with clients. Participants will leave with clear, practical steps to manage a breach and reduce the risk of recurrence. 

Objectives

Upon completion of this session, you will be able to:

• Identify the legal and ethical responsibilities of tax professionals for protecting taxpayer data 
• Describe the key stages of a data breach, including detection, containment and recovery 
• Determine required reporting actions following a data breach, including when and how to notify the IRS and other parties 
• Recognize the potential impacts of a data breach on clients and tax practices 
• Respond appropriately following a data breach, including documentation and client communication 
• Improve preparedness and reduce the risk of future incidents 

CPE