Compliance | Digital Nomad

Protect Against Tax-Related Identity Theft: Summer 2026 Initiatives for the Tax Professional Community

This summer the IRS and the Security Summit partners are launching a campaign to help tax professionals shield themselves and their clients from identity theft—offering tools, best practices, and guidance.

By NomadicTax Research Team • 7 min read • July 25, 2026

## Campaign Launch: "Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself" In early July 2026, the IRS joined with major stakeholders via the **Security Summit** to launch the **“Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself”** campaign. This five-week series aims to provide tax professionals with practical tools and practices to combat identity theft, fraud, and misuse of client data. ([irs.gov](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-and-security-summit-partners-announce-new-framework-to-better-protect-taxpayers-and-tax-revenue-from-fraud?utm_source=openai)) ## Key Areas of Focus The campaign includes: - **Strengthened authentication**: Ensuring all stakeholders use multi-factor authentication and strong password policies to safeguard systems and data. - **Secure data handling**: Proper storage, secure disposal, and limited access protocols for sensitive materials. - **Awareness of evolving fraud schemes**: Keeping up with new phishing tactics, impersonation attempts, fraudulent refund claims, and methods for altering electronic returns. ## Why This is Crucial for Digital Nomads & Remote Preparers If you provide advisory or filing services across jurisdictions or work as a nomadic professional, safeguarding data becomes more complex. Wireless networks, remote access tools, and shared devices can all be vulnerabilities. The campaign highlights practices that protect you and your clients wherever you are located. ## Actionable Steps & Best Practices - Encrypt devices and storage where client data is held. - Use VPNs when accessing tax software or systems from public or shared networks. - Limit the access rights of team members—principle of least privilege. - Regularly update your software—patch vulnerabilities in tax-facing applications. - Conduct regular client identity verification to defend against impersonation for submission or refund fraud. - Maintain logs of access and review periodically. ## Example **Case of a Digital Nomad Prepping Returns**: Maria is a CPA who travels while working. She uses public Wi-Fi and cloud storage. Under this campaign, she adopts a password manager, encrypts her laptop, locks up her mode of cloud access, uses a mobile hotspot for sensitive work, and builds a standard checklist for client identity verification before sharing documents. ## Outcome and For You - Clients feel safer, trust builds, and practices stay compliant. - You minimize reputational and financial risk tied to fraud, identity theft, or data breaches. - You are ready for IRS scrutiny or regulation—already increasing concerning tax-related fraud. By proactively adopting these best practices, tax professionals strengthen both client trust and their own operational resilience.