In 2017, a breach at Equifax exposed personal information of about 147 million people. It happened after a known software vulnerability was not patched in time. Years later, the breach is still a useful reminder that your information can be exposed through no fault of your own.

What individuals can do

• Freeze your credit. It is free under federal law at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and you can lift it when you need to apply for credit.
• Check your credit reports. Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site for free reports.
• Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN. It can help prevent someone else from filing a return using your Social Security number.
• Be careful with messages. The IRS generally does not start contact by email, text or social media about a tax debt.
• Use strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication.

What businesses can do

• Install security updates promptly
• Limit who can get to sensitive information
• Train your staff to spot phishing
• Have a plan in case of a breach

Tax professionals also must have a written information security plan to protect client data.

If your identity is stolen

Visit IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan. If you get an IRS notice about a return you did not file, respond right away.

Need help with your situation? Tax rules change and every situation is different, so please talk with a professional before acting on general information. Call Fajardo & Associates at 407-720-7220 to make an appointment.