The IRS’ “Get Transcript” application has been temporarily disabled. Recently, criminals used taxpayer-specific data acquired from non-IRS sources to gain unauthorized access to information through the IRS’ “Get Transcript” application. The application will remain disabled until security modifications are made.
The information gained allowed the criminals to clear the multi-step authentication process, including several personal verification questions that typically are only known by the taxpayer.
The IRS will be sending letters to all of the approximately 200,000 taxpayers whose accounts had attempted unauthorized accesses. They will also be providing free credit monitoring services for the approximately 100,000 taxpayers whose accounts were accessed. The letters received by taxpayers will address details of the unauthorized access and instructions for obtaining the free credit monitoring services.
The IRS will also be marking the underlying taxpayer accounts on their core processing system to flag for potential identity theft to protect taxpayers going forward.
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Original Post (3/19/15):
The IRS has expanded the information available to taxpayers electronically through their website. By visiting the IRS’ “Get Transcript” link , individual taxpayers can immediately access a variety of transcript types. This service can be very helpful if you’re applying for a mortgage or if you’ve switched CPAs and don’t have access to prior year copies of your tax returns.
To use this service, you must have a Social Security Number, immediate access to your email account and will need to answer personal, financial and tax related questions to verify your identity. Once you’re registered you can use the site at any time by logging in with your user ID and password.
