Tax season is crunch time — not just for you, but for cybercriminals too.
While you’re racing to gather documents, communicate with your accountant, and meet government deadlines, hackers are hard at work exploiting the chaos. And if you’re a small or midsize business in California, you’re right in their crosshairs.
At Cybersecure California, we’re on a mission to protect 1 million California businesses from the devastating impact of cyberattacks — especially during high-risk times like tax season.
Here’s what every business owner, bookkeeper, and manager needs to know right now.
Why Hackers Love Tax Season
Cybercriminals know that businesses are sharing a huge amount of sensitive data — and that you’re likely moving fast, under pressure, and maybe not double-checking every email.
🔒 1. Sensitive Financial Data Is Flying Around
Tax season involves exchanging Social Security numbers, employee W-2s, bank account details, and more. A single compromised email or fake file upload link can open the door to fraud.
⏰ 2. Deadline Pressure Creates Risk
Rushing to file before the IRS deadline? Hackers exploit urgency by crafting fake emails that look like they’re from the IRS, your CPA, or payroll services — tricking your team into clicking before thinking.
📥 3. Inboxes Are Flooded — and Scammers Know It
With legitimate emails coming in from tax platforms, payroll providers, and government agencies, it’s easy to miss a fraudulent one buried in the mix.
🧑💼 4. Scams Pretend to Be Someone You Trust
These aren’t just random spam emails. Scammers pose as your accountant, your bookkeeper, even the IRS — using spoofed email addresses and real-looking logos to trick you into wiring money or handing over data.
Most Common Tax Season Cyber Threats
- Phishing Emails – Fake emails that steal logins or install malware.
- Fake Payment Requests – Fraudulent wire transfers disguised as tax obligations.
- Ransomware – Hackers lock your data and demand payment.
- Social Engineering – Phone calls or emails impersonating trusted sources.
5 Steps to Keep Your Business Safe This Tax Season
✅ 1. Train Your Team
Your employees are the first line of defense. Teach them how to spot:
- Emails with strange addresses or urgent requests.
- Attachments they weren’t expecting.
- Messages asking for login credentials or financial info.
🔐 2. Use Secure File Sharing
Stop sending tax documents over email. Instead:
- Use encrypted client portals.
- Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all financial and tax software.
- Use advanced email filtering to catch phishing attempts.
🧱 3. Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Even if a password is stolen, MFA can block access. Enforce it across all email, tax, and accounting platforms.
🛡 4. Get a Cybersecurity Checkup
Most small businesses don’t know where they’re vulnerable — until it’s too late. A simple security assessment can:
- Find weak points in your systems.
- Ensure backups are working.
- Catch outdated software or unpatched security holes.
📞 5. Double-Verify All Financial Requests
Before sending money or confidential information:
- Call to confirm with a known contact.
- Watch for slightly misspelled email addresses.
- Be skeptical of any sudden changes to payment info.
Don’t Let Cybercriminals Ruin Your Tax Season
Cyberattacks don’t just hit big corporations. They hit Main Street businesses every day — especially during high-stress times like tax season.
At Cybersecure California, we’re here to help you stay safe. One California business at a time.
🛠 Is Your Business Vulnerable?
Let’s find out — before hackers do.
Schedule your FREE Cybersecurity Assessment today and get personalized insights to protect your systems, data, and team.
👉 Book Your Free Assessment Now
Together, we can keep California’s business community strong — and secure.