“Can you legally answer 'Yes' to Question 11 on your IRS Form W-12 renewal?”
IRS requires tax professionals to confirm they meet the legal obligation to maintain a WISP for PTIN renewal.
For accounting firms, data security is about more than just IT, it is about professional integrity and business continuity. You have spent years building your reputation; a single data breach shouldn't be the thing that tears it down.
WMS Nova partners with tax professionals to build resilient, compliant security infrastructures. We understand the specific pressures of tax season and the regulatory requirements of the IRS and FTC. We provide the tools, documentation, and support you need to protect your firm and your license.
We do not guarantee 100% compliance. No honest provider can, because compliance is a daily practice, not a one-time product. However, we provide the specific infrastructure and documentation required to help you achieve and maintain compliance with federal laws.
IRS Publication 4557 (Safeguarding Taxpayer Data)
Federal guidelines require all professional tax preparers to create and maintain a security plan for client data. This applies to every firm, regardless of size.
FTC Safeguards Rule
Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), tax preparation firms are classified as "financial institutions" and must protect customer information.
Written Information Security Plan (WISP)
You cannot legally renew your PTIN without attesting that you have a data security plan in place.
We don't just check boxes for the government. We build systems that keep your firm profitable and efficient.
In the accounting world, downtime during tax season is not an inconvenience; it is a disaster.
Insurance policies often deny claims if the firm cannot prove they followed basic security standards (like using Multi-Factor Authentication).
Smart security designed for the rhythm of tax season.
Your staff needs to work late or from home during busy season. We configure IRS-Compliant VPNs and secure remote desktop environments. This allows your team to access sensitive tax software securely, without exposing client data to home network risks.
You handle the tax forms; we handle the security forms. We draft the WISP customized to your workflows and facilitate Employee Acknowledgement signatures, ensuring you can demonstrate due diligence to auditors.
We replace consumer-grade routers with enterprise firewalls that actively inspect traffic for financial malware. If a device fails, we replace it immediately—no questions asked.