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IRS Was Just Kidding When It Said Cyber Criminals Tried to Access Tax Return Information for 225,000 Households

It was quite a few more than that, actually:

The IRS reported in May that cyber crooks used stolen Social Security numbers and other data acquired elsewhere to try to gain unauthorized access to prior-year tax return information for about 225,000 U.S. households. That included about 114,000 successful attempts and 111,000 unsuccessful ones.

On Monday, the agency said its review showed that an additional 390,000 taxpayers were potentially affected. That includes about 220,000 additional households “where there were instances of possible or potential access” to prior-year return data, the IRS said in a statement. It also includes about 170,000 additional instances of “suspected attempts that failed to clear the authentication processes,” it added.

CPAs looking for a diversion from their own technology issues appreciate the Service's effort in this matter.

[WSJ]