Data Security Plan Kit for Tax Preparers, WISP Template, Incident Response Forms, Editable Word & Excel

Seller's description

Write your office's data security plan in one afternoon. This kit gives you a fill-in Word plan, a worked example and ready-made logs. It's based on IRS Publication 5708 and the FTC Safeguards Rule.

WHY NOW
Your PTIN expires Dec 31 each year. Line 11 of paper Form W-12 (Rev. October 2025) covers data security. It says paid preparers are required by law to have a written information security plan (WISP). Under the FTC Safeguards Rule, tax preparation firms count as financial institutions. IRS Publication 5708 says this applies regardless of size.

WHO IT'S FOR
• Solo preparers and enrolled agents
• Small CPA and tax offices with 1 to 10 people
• Offices with no IT staff. You don't need to be technical.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (5 files)
1. Start Here quick-start guide (PDF, 10 pages). Read this first. It maps every file and lays out the afternoon plan.
2. Security plan template (Word, 37 pages) plus 3 Word letters: client incident notice, vendor security questions and an annual report to the owner.
3. Workbook (Excel, 14 tabs). Risk assessment, data map, devices, software, access list, vendors, training, incidents, monitoring, disposal, a 2027 calendar and a dashboard.
4. Fillable forms (PDF, 3 forms). Staff security acknowledgment, incident report form and a first-hour incident checklist.
5. Worked example (PDF, 38 pages). A complete plan for a fictional 3-person office.
You also get Google Docs and Google Sheets make-a-copy links.

WHAT THE FREE IRS SAMPLE DOESN'T INCLUDE
This kit starts from the IRS Publication 5708 outline and adds the worksheets, logs, letters and example the free sample leaves out.
• A finished example plan
• A scored risk assessment worksheet
• Software, vendor, training and incident logs. Pub 5708 has blank hardware and access tables only.
• A client incident notice letter
• An annual report to the owner

HOW TO USE IT
1. Download the files and open the Start Here guide.
2. Open your copies in Word and Excel. Or use the Google links.
3. Follow the afternoon plan. It's four 60-minute blocks.
4. Sign the plan. Review it each year with the 2027 calendar.

FILE FORMATS
• DOCX: Word 2016 or later, Word for Mac or Google Docs
• XLSX: Excel or Google Sheets. No macros.
• Fillable PDF: free Adobe Acrobat Reader or Apple Preview
• US Letter size. A free Google account is needed for the Google copies.

ABOUT THE MAKER
I'm Ken. I've spent 25 years in IT and 12 of them working only with accounting firms. Every source and its revision date is listed inside. Updated for the 2027 filing season.

PLEASE READ
This kit is a template and guide. It is not legal, tax or cybersecurity advice. Using it does not make your office compliant with any law. You are responsible for your own compliance. Have a qualified attorney or security professional review your finished plan. Ledger Content Studio is not affiliated with or endorsed by the IRS or the FTC.

LICENSE
For use by one office. Please don't resell or share the files.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
This is a digital product. No physical item will be shipped.

How it's made: Designed and checked by Ledger Content Studio. AI tools assisted with drafting the text and laying out the files. Every requirement was checked against the public IRS and FTC sources listed inside.

Questions? Message me on Etsy. I read every message.