Tax preparers warned about data thefts

LANSING (AP) — State Treasury officials are urging tax professionals to be alert to data theft schemes and scams in the final weeks before the April 17 filing deadline.

Michigan Deputy Treasurer Glenn White says data safeguards should be reviewed and immediately enhanced. Data security plans also should be created.

Attacks by cybercriminals on tax practitioner offices occur most often from January through April.

The Internal Revenue Service reports that 75 firms have reported taxpayer data thefts in January and February. That's a nearly 60-percent increase over the same period last year.

One refund scheme has affected thousands of taxpayers and numerous tax practitioners this filing season.