Protecting Taxpayer Data in the Age of AI and Cybersecurity | EA Leadership Academy

Monday, Aug 17, 2026
6:00 PM EST

Register Now
Register Now
EA Leadership Academy

Protecting Taxpayer Data
in the Age of AI & Cybersecurity

A professional conversation for EAs, CPAs, and tax professionals. We'll unpack how AI is reshaping the threat landscape for taxpayer data, where firms are most exposed, and what you should be doing to protect your clients and your practice.

Monday, August 17, 2026
6:00pm-8:00pm Eastern
2 hours of IRS CE
Register Now

Space is limited — register today.

Session begins in

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500+ Tax Professionals
Open Q&A with Our Panel
What We'll Cover

A Candid Conversation About
Keeping Taxpayer Data Safe

How AI Is Changing the Threat Landscape

We'll walk through how bad actors are using AI-powered phishing, deepfakes, and social engineering to target tax professionals — and why firms are becoming a bigger target than ever.

What the IRS Expects From Your Practice

We'll talk through the IRS's Written Information Security Plan (WISP) requirements and Safeguards Rule obligations — and what "reasonable" data protection actually looks like today.

Practical Safeguards for Your Practice

From secure client portals to multi-factor authentication and vendor vetting, we'll talk through what you should be doing differently right now to protect client data.

Questions Practitioners Are Already Asking

We've been hearing a lot from the community. We'll address the most common concerns and scenarios practitioners are navigating around AI tools, client data, and cybersecurity.

Responding to a Breach or Suspected Compromise

We'll share what to watch for, who to notify, and the steps to take in the first 24 hours if you suspect client data has been exposed.

Open Discussion & Q&A

This is your time. Bring your specific questions, client scenarios, and perspectives. Our panel is here to discuss, not lecture — the conversation is the point.

Why This Conversation Matters

Data Security Is One of the Fastest-Moving
Risks Facing Tax Practitioners Today

AI
Now powering more sophisticated phishing and impersonation scams targeting tax pros
WISP
A written data security plan isn't optional — it's an IRS requirement for practitioners
Your
Practice
Deserves clarity — not confusion — on what "reasonable" security looks like

Whether you already have a data security plan in place or you're still figuring out where to start, this session is for you. We're not here to alarm — we're here to give you an honest, grounded conversation with colleagues who are asking the same questions you are.

  • Connect with colleagues who are navigating the same questions and concerns
  • Get practical insights you can actually apply to your practice and client conversations
  • Ask the questions you've been sitting on — no judgment, no pressure
  • Leave with fresh perspectives and new connections in the tax community
  • Stay ahead of the conversation so you're informed, not reactive
Your Hosts for the Evening

Meet the EA Leadership Academy Instructors

Four working tax professionals — enrolled agents, educators, and practice owners — who built this community because they know what it takes to do this work well.

Katrina L. Martin, EA, CTA, MBA
Katrina L. Martin
Founder · EA Leadership Academy
EACTAMBAAir Force Veteran

Founder of WOW Tax & Advisory Services and WealthFlow365™, Katrina is an enrolled agent and tax strategist who helps entrepreneurs stop overpaying and start building real wealth. She founded EA Leadership Academy to give aspiring tax professionals a clear, practical path to the EA credential — and a practice worth owning.

Leri Lewis, EA, CTRS, NTPI Fellow
Leri Lewis
Founder · EA Leadership Academy
EACTRSNTPI Fellow

With over 30 years in the tax industry, Leri is the owner of Infinity Tax Solutions and a respected educator and advocate within the tax professional community. She serves as Director, Presenter, and Education Coordinator for the Michigan Society of Enrolled Agents and brings deep expertise in IRS and state representation to every conversation.

Valaise Smith, EA
Valaise Smith
Founding Member · EA Leadership Academy
EATax StrategistBBA Finance

CEO of Tried and True Financial Services, LLC, Valaise brings more than two decades of financial services experience to her work as an enrolled agent and educator. She helps entrepreneurs gain clarity and confidence in their numbers — and mentors the next generation of EAs toward exam success and lasting career impact.

Camea Franklin-Daney, EA, MBA
Camea Franklin-Daney
Founding Member · EA Leadership Academy
EAMBAFinancial Educator

With over 20 years of experience in tax compliance, resolution, and small business financial strategy, Camea joined the EA Leadership Academy to give back to the tax community and encourage others to pursue the EA credential. She specializes in the music, media, and creative industries and brings leadership experience from organizations including Scripps Networks and Fiat Chrysler Corporation.

What Members Say

Trusted by Tax Professionals Across the Country

These sessions consistently earn the highest ratings from our professional community.

★★★★★

EA Leadership Academy is the one professional development event I never miss. The conversation is real, the expertise is deep, and I always leave with something I can use immediately in my practice.

M
Michelle T., EA
Solo Tax Practice Owner · Houston, TX
★★★★★

I've attended dozens of professional webinars. EA Leadership Academy is the only one where I feel like the speakers actually know what it's like to be in practice. No fluff — just substance.

D
David R., CPA
Tax Resolution Firm Owner · Atlanta, GA
★★★★★

This community has transformed how I run my firm. The sessions keep me ahead of every regulatory change before it affects my clients. Absolutely invaluable.

S
Sandra K., EA, NTPI Fellow
Senior Tax Practitioner · Chicago, IL

Register Now

Complete your registration below. You will be redirected to our secure payment page to complete your $87 registration.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Registration is $87 and includes 2 hours of IRS CE-approved continuing education, live instruction, and access to valuable resources and materials shared during the webinar.
Yes. This session offers 2 hours of IRS continuing education credit. To receive CE, you must register using your own name and email address, attend the live webinar, and complete all required attendance and participation checks. CE credit is available for live attendance only — it is not awarded for replays.
AI has made phishing emails, impersonation attempts, voice cloning, deepfakes, and social-engineering scams more realistic and harder to catch. Tax professionals are trusted with highly sensitive information — Social Security numbers, financial records, banking details, and confidential business data. Understanding these emerging threats is essential to protecting your clients, your team, and your practice's reputation.
It's a candid, conversational session rather than a lecture. Our goal is to create space for learning, networking, and sharing real scenarios with the tax community — come as you are.
Replay availability may vary and, if offered, will be shared with registered attendees. Live attendance is strongly encouraged — especially if you want CE credit, since watching a replay generally does not satisfy live CE requirements.
This session is designed for Enrolled Agents, CPAs, tax preparers, tax-resolution professionals, tax firm owners and managers, bookkeepers, payroll professionals, aspiring tax professionals, and administrative team members who handle taxpayer information. If you work in or around the tax profession, this conversation is directly relevant to you.
After you register, you'll receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the live webinar. Use an email address you check regularly, and check your spam or junk folder if the confirmation doesn't appear in your inbox.
Absolutely — and please do. Open Q&A is a core part of this session. Submit questions via the chat throughout, and our panel will address them during the dedicated Q&A segment. To protect taxpayer confidentiality, please don't share names, Social Security numbers, account numbers, or other identifying client information when discussing a situation.
This webinar is led by the EA Leadership Academy instructor team — Katrina L. Martin, Leri Lewis, Valaise Smith, and Camea Franklin-Daney — experienced Enrolled Agents, educators, and practice owners. Guest professionals may also join when their expertise adds value to the topic.
EA Leadership Academy is a professional education and membership community dedicated to helping aspiring and experienced tax professionals expand their knowledge, strengthen their skills, and grow with confidence — offering EA exam prep, IRS continuing education, mentorship, and live events led by working Enrolled Agents.
No. This session welcomes tax professionals at every stage of their careers, including aspiring Enrolled Agents, experienced preparers, firm owners, support staff, bookkeepers, accountants, and other professionals who want to strengthen their knowledge of AI and data security.
You'll need a reliable internet connection, a computer or compatible mobile device, working audio, and access to the email address used during registration. For the best experience — especially if you're completing attendance checks or earning CE credit — we recommend joining from a computer.
Don't Miss This Conversation

Bring Your Questions. Bring Your Energy.
Leave With New Connections.

Join us Monday, August 17, 2026 for a candid, collegial conversation about protecting taxpayer data in the age of AI and cybersecurity — one of the most pressing issues facing tax professionals today.

Register Now