Many people use the same sign-on and password over and over for online accounts because having multiple log-ins is too hard to remember. Of course, we know that isn’t the best way to manage our online accounts. Once a thief has your password for an account, you likely have the same sign-on information for another account and they have access to numerous sites.
The IRS is working to protect your account and has set new stronger standards you will notice when accessing your files. These changes include:
- Passwords requiring eight or more characters, upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters
- A timed lockout and a limit on unsuccessful log-ins.
- Three security questions.
- Verification of email addresses. A PIN will be emailed to you to verify your address before you can access the tax software.
These are a few of the added layers of protection to be used for the 2016 tax season to help secure you from identity theft. It is recommended to always use strong passwords with a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters — longer password is better than a short one. Do not use the same password for more than one account and make it a habit to change your passwords on a regular basis. For additional steps, you can take to protect your personal/financial data, visit Taxes.Security.Together. If you’d like to read tips we have shared on how to keep your passwords safe, visit the links below.
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