What the IRS WISP Template PDF Is and Why You Need It
The IRS WISP template PDF gives tax professionals a structured starting point for meeting one of the most frequently overlooked federal compliance requirements in the industry. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and the FTC Safeguards Rule, every tax preparer who handles client financial data must maintain a Written Information Security Plan (WISP)-a documented set of policies and procedures designed to protect sensitive taxpayer information from unauthorized access, theft, or disclosure.
The IRS, through its Security Summit initiative-a public-private partnership between the IRS, state tax agencies, and the nation's tax industry-developed a sample WISP template specifically for small practices and sole practitioners who lack dedicated IT staff.
This guide walks you through where to find and download that template, what each section requires, and how to tailor it to your practice size and complexity. Whether you operate as a sole practitioner or manage a growing accounting firm with multiple staff members, the WISP requirement applies to you. The IRS makes clear in Publication 4557, Safeguarding Taxpayer Data that no specific format is mandated-but the plan must exist, be written, and be actively implemented.
For a broader overview of your obligations, our IRS WISP requirements guide covers the full regulatory framework in detail.
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