Form W-2/SSN Data Theft: Information for Businesses and Payroll Service Providers–IRS

How to Report a W-2 Data Theft

Businesses and payroll service providers can now quickly report data losses resulting from a scam fraudsters are using to trick employees into revealing W-2 information. Find out how at Form W2/SSN Data Theft: Information for Businesses and Payroll Service Providers. If notified in time, the IRS can prevent employees from being victimized by identity thieves filing fraudulent returns in their names.

Separately, the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry warned tax professionals to beware of a phishing email scaminvolving IRS e-Services.

A tax professional who experiences any type of data breach should quickly report the incident to the IRS. Tax professionals may contact their local stakeholder liaison. See details at Data Theft Information for Tax Professionals.

Tax phishing scheme hooks victims in Texas town famous for its water features (dontmesswithtaxes.com)

Know Your Rights | Immigration | NCLR

The National Council of La Raza created a know your rights page with information on what to do if ICE comes do your door.

Regardless of their immigration status, all people in the U.S. have certain rights and protections provided by the Constitution. Advocates and the general public can use and share these resources to ensure these rights are asserted and respected.

No importa su estado migratorio, toda persona en los Estados Unidos goza de ciertos derechos y protecciones garantizados por la Constitución. Defensores de los derechos de inmigrantes y el público en general puede utilizar y compartir estos recursos para hacer valer estos derechos.

Lawyers mimic defendant BuzzFeed in motion with clickbait heading and adorable kitten photo-ABA Journal

Lawyers suing BuzzFeed for alleged defamation tried using the defendant’s clickbait tactics in a motion seeking to keep the case in Miami federal court.

The motion is entitled; “Six ways BuzzFeed has misled the court (number two will amaze you) … and a picture of a kitten.” Law.com has a story (sub req.).

Liberty Defense Project | The State of New York

In New York, we support the rights of and stand with immigrants faced with deportation so that every New Yorker has access to the full protections afforded under the law.

With the Liberty Defense Project, New York State launches the first-in-the-nation, state-led public-private project to assist immigrants, regardless of status, in obtaining access to legal services and process. Governor Cuomo continues our legacy of protecting the rights and freedoms of all New Yorkers.

The Liberty Defense Project will be administered by the state’s Office for New Americans and will be run in partnership with law firms, legal associations, advocacy organizations, major colleges and universities, and bar associations.

Learn more…

Identity Theft Information for Tax Professionals–IRS

Tax professionals play a critical role in assisting clients, both individuals and businesses, who are victims of tax-related identity theft. This new fact sheet explains what tax-related identity theft is and what to do if it happens to one of your clients.

Separately, the IRS advised senior taxpayers to remain alert to aggressive and threatening phone calls from criminals impersonating IRS agents. The callers claim to be IRS employees but are not.

Second Circuit Upholds Ban on Private Investment in Law Firms | New York Law Journal

Andrew Denney and Ben Hancock, New York Law Journal

***

A federal appeals court on Friday rejected an attempt to loosen restrictions on private investment in the legal industry, dismissing arguments that ethics rules on so-called “fee splitting” impinge on lawyers’ First Amendment rights.

The decision, which affirms a 2015 district court ruling, is a blow to Los Angeles-based personal injury firm Jacoby & Meyers, which has fought a nearly six-year legal battle against the prohibition on non-lawyers investing in law firms and sharing in legal fees.

60 Tips in 60 Minutes focuses on increasing productivity for work and life–ABA Journal

BY VICTOR LI

The always-popular ABA Techshow closing session, 60 in 60, has taken on several iterations over the years: websites (“60 Sites in 60 Minutes”), general tech tips (“60 Tips in 60 Minutes”) and a hodgepodge of things (“60 Tips, Tricks, Gizmos, Gadgets and Sites in 60 Minutes”).

Trump budget eliminates Legal Services Corp. funding

BY DEBRA CASSENS WEISS

President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget eliminates funding for the Legal Services Corp. In his first budget proposal released Thursday, Trump is cutting discretionary spending to pay for an increase in defense spending and the wall on the Mexican border, the Washington Post reports.

***

Read entire ABA Journal article here…

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Desktop Document Scanner Review (2017 Update)

By Sam Glover on March 9th, 2017

The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is a bit over four years old, which means people are starting to wonder if they should still buy one. My answer is yes, although it’s likely Fujitsu will update the iX500 soon.1

Since the iX500 was released, Fujitsu added wireless scanning, then ScanSnap Cloud, and I have updated this review for 2017, including information about the various ways you can scan with those options.

The bottom line: the ScanSnap iX500 has gotten better over time, and it remains an excellent value. If you need a document scanner, this is still the one you should get, and it remains at the top of our top picks for scanners.

Here’s why…