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"It's not what you earn, it's what you keep!"

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You are here: Home / Security Awareness

Security Awareness

Seven Steps for Making Identity Protection Part of Your Routine

The theft of your identity, especially personal information such as your name, Social Security number, address and children’s names, can be traumatic and frustrating. In this online era, it’s important to always be on guard.

The IRS has teamed up with state revenue departments and the tax industry to make sure you understand the dangers to your personal and financial data. Taxes. Security. Together. Working in partnership with you, we can make a difference.

Here are seven steps you can make part of your routine to protect your tax and financial information:

Read your credit card and banking statements carefully and often – watch for even the smallest charge that appears suspicious. (Neither your credit card nor bank – or the IRS – will send you emails asking for sensitive personal and financial information such as asking you to update your account.)

Review and respond to all notices and correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service. Warning signs of tax-related identity theft can include IRS notices about tax returns you did not file, income you did not receive or employers you’ve never heard of or where you’ve never worked.

Review each of your three credit reports at least once a year. Visit annualcreditreport.com to get your free reports.

Review your annual Social Security income statement for excessive income reported. You can sign up for an electronic account at www.SSA.gov.

Read your health insurance statements; look for claims you never filed or care you never received.

Shred any documents with personal and financial information. Never toss documents with your personally identifiable information, especially your social security number, in the trash.

If you receive any routine federal deposit such as Social Security Administrator or Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, you probably receive those deposits electronically. You can use the same direct deposit process for your federal and state tax refund. IRS direct deposit is safe and secure and places your tax refund directly into the financial account of your choice.

The California Board of Accountancy has a web page entitled “How to Select a CPA”.

The firm of Alan F. Kingsley, CPA is licensed by the California State Board of Public Accountancy.

Tax Links

  • AICPA Tax Information
  • California Employment Development Department
  • California Guide to Reporting Out-of-State Purchases
  • California State Board of Equalization
  • California Tax Law
  • Duke Law Library – Intro to Tax Research
  • Employer Registration – California Employment Development Department
  • Employer Registration – Internal Revenue Service [for Employer Identification Numbers also]
  • Franchise Tax Board
  • Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free
  • Government Printing Office
  • Internal Revenue Code
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • Tax News
  • U.S. Social Security Administration
  • U.S. Treasury Regulations

Financial Planning Links

  • Federal Reserve – The Beige Book
  • Federal Trade Commission – Free Annual Credit Reports
  • Financial Engines
  • Investment University
  • Moneydance Software
  • Winning the Loser's Game

General Interest Links

  • *Podcast — IRS WEB2Go Smartphone App
  • *YouTube Video — IRS IRS2G0 Smartphone App
  • AcousticVibes – audio recording services
  • Alan's Flute and Music Pages
  • California Board of Accountancy
  • Kingsley2D – photos and more
  • Susan Kingsley, Realtor
  • Ted Kingsley's personal site
  • Wikipedia Article About CPAs

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure

31 CFR Part 10, section 10.35, requires me to notify you that any tax advice in this electronic forum (including any attachments, postings, pages or links) was not intended or written by me to be used, and cannot be used by you (or any other taxpayer), for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matter addressed herein.
  1. Please send any feedback, questions or comments.
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IRS Circular 230 Disclosure

31 CFR Part 10, section 10.35, requires me to notify you that any tax advice in this electronic forum (including any attachments, postings, pages or links) was not intended or written by me to be used, and cannot be used by you (or any other taxpayer), for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax-related matter addressed herein.
The California Board of Accountancy has a "Consumer Assistance Booklet" describing such topics as "How Do I Select a CPA" and "What Services are Provided by CPAs?" It's available here in pdf format.

The firm of Alan F. Kingsley, CPA is licensed by the California State Board of Public Accountancy.

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Tax Links

  • AICPA Tax Information
  • California Employment Development Department
  • California Guide to Reporting Out-of-State Purchases
  • California State Board of Equalization
  • California Tax Law
  • Duke Law Library – Intro to Tax Research
  • Employer Registration – California Employment Development Department
  • Employer Registration – Internal Revenue Service [for Employer Identification Numbers also]
  • Franchise Tax Board
  • Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free
  • Government Printing Office
  • Internal Revenue Code
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • Tax News
  • U.S. Social Security Administration
  • U.S. Treasury Regulations
  • Privacy Policy
  • Services
  • Understanding the Real Estate Tax Deduction
  • Famous Tax Quotations
  • Sitemap
  • Tax Agency News
  • IRS Announces 2012 Standard Mileage Rates, Most Rates Are the Same as in July
  • IRS e-file Launches Today; Most Taxpayers Can File Immediately
  • IRS Issues Proposed Regulations on New Basis Reporting Requirement
  • Alan’s “Free/Busy” Schedule
  • Windows 8 Now or Later?
  • New California College Access Tax Credit
  • Security Awareness
  • What’s New for Filing 2017 Tax Returns [CA Franchise Tax Board]
  • How Taxpayers Across the Country Can Have their Taxes Prepared for Free

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