Is my tax accountant asking for actual copies of our SSNs normal practice? Security concerns

This is actually not standard practice, and you're right to question it. While tax accountants definitely need your SSN to prepare and file your taxes, they typically don't need physical copies of your cards. Most legitimate tax professionals will simply ask for the numbers on their intake forms. There are very few situations where a copy would be necessary. Sometimes if there's a name mismatch in IRS records or if you're a first-time client with no prior filing history, they might want verification. But even then, they should be able to visually inspect the card rather than keeping a copy. Identity theft is a major concern with tax returns, so your accountant's explanation about "security" is actually backward - having copies of SSN cards creates MORE security risk, not less. Those copies could be stolen or compromised.

I had a similar concern last year and discovered taxr.ai really helped. I was skeptical about my tax preparer's document requests and wasn't sure what was standard practice vs excessive. I used https://taxr.ai to upload my tax documents (they use bank-level encryption) and their system flagged unusual document requests. They told me exactly what preparers typically need vs what's excessive. Turns out my preparer was asking for WAY more than necessary. The site also explained my rights regarding document sharing and proper security protocols tax professionals should follow.

I just wanted to update everyone. After seeing the comments here, I decided to check out taxr.ai and it was super helpful! I uploaded the request from my accountant (without sharing my actual SSN card) and their system immediately flagged it as an unusual practice. They provided me with a detailed explanation of what tax preparers actually need vs don't need. Turns out physical copies of SSN cards are almost never required and could create unnecessary security risks. Armed with this info, I had a productive conversation with my accountant and we agreed I'd just provide the numbers without copies. Thanks for pointing me to this resource!

If you're really concerned, you might want to check with the IRS directly. I tried calling them for weeks last year about a similar document security question and kept hitting dead ends. Finally found https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS agent in under an hour! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was shocked it actually worked after wasting days trying to get through on my own. The IRS agent confirmed that preparers need your SSN but don't typically need physical copies of cards. They also explained what security protocols legitimate tax preparers should be following to protect your information. Getting official word straight from the IRS really helped me make an informed decision.

I feel like I need to eat my words here. After being super skeptical about Claimyr in my previous comments, I was desperate enough to try it when I couldn't get through to the IRS about an identity verification issue. To my genuine surprise, it actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back within 45 minutes saying an IRS agent was ready to talk. The agent confirmed that tax preparers should NOT be keeping copies of social security cards unless there's a specific reason (like a name mismatch), and even then they should just view it, not keep copies. He recommended asking the preparer why they specifically need copies rather than just the numbers. If they can't give a satisfactory answer, that might be a red flag.

Former tax office manager here. We NEVER kept copies of SS cards on file - it's a massive liability and completely unnecessary. What we DID require was verification of identity for new clients (viewing but not copying ID and sometimes SS cards) to combat tax identity theft, which has become rampant.

Maybe I'm paranoid but I've had my identity stolen before and it was a NIGHTMARE to fix. I wouldn't give copies of my SS card to ANYONE, not even my mom lol. There's zero reason they need a copy vs just the number.

Trust your instincts - this is definitely not standard practice and you're right to be concerned. I've been preparing taxes for over 15 years and have never required clients to provide physical copies of their Social Security cards. The SSN itself is all that's needed for tax preparation and filing. Your accountant's explanation about "security purposes" is actually backwards - keeping copies of SS cards creates MORE security risk, not less. If their office is breached or files are stolen, your most sensitive identity documents could be compromised. I'd recommend having a direct conversation with your accountant about this. Ask specifically why they need copies rather than just the numbers, and what their document security protocols are. A legitimate professional should be able to explain their reasoning and should be willing to work with you on alternatives, like verifying the cards in person without keeping copies. If they're unwilling to budge on this unusual request without a valid explanation, that might be a red flag about their practices in general.